Keys to Successful Cross-Race Mentoring Relationships: Perspectives from Mentees and Mentors
- Conference
- Location
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Baltimore , Maryland
- Publication Date
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June 25, 2023
- Start Date
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June 25, 2023
- End Date
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June 28, 2023
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Minorities in Engineering Division(MIND)
- Tagged Topic
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Diversity
- Page Count
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14
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--43915
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/43915
- Download Count
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301
Paper Authors
Sylvia L. Mendez University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Dr. Sylvia Mendez is a Professor in the Department of Leadership, Research, and Foundations at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She earned a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Kansas, a MS in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University, and a BA in Economics from Washington State University. She is engaged in several National Science Foundation-sponsored collaborative research projects focused on broadening participation and success in STEM academia. Her research centers on creating inclusive higher education policies and practices that advance faculty careers and student success.
Jennifer Tygret
Anneke Bruwer
Comas Lamar Haynes Georgia Tech Research Institute
Comas Lamar Haynes is a Principal Research Engineer / faculty member of the Georgia Tech Research Institute and Joint Faculty Appointee at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. His research includes modeling steady state and transient behavior of advanced energy systems, inclusive of their thermal management, and the characterization and optimization of novel cycles. He has advised graduate and undergraduate research assistants and has received multi-agency funding for energy systems analysis and development. Sponsor examples include the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and NASA. Dr. Haynes also develops fuel cells and alternative energy systems curricula for public and college courses and experimental laboratories. Additionally, he is the co-developer of the outreach initiative, Educators Leading Energy Conservation and Training Researchers of Diverse Ethnicities (ELECTRoDE). He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Florida A&M University and his graduate degrees (culminating in a Ph.D.) from Georgia Tech; and all of the degrees are in the discipline of Mechanical Engineering.
Jacqueline A. El-Sayed American Society for Engineering Education
Dr. Jacqueline El-Sayed is the Chief Academic Officer & Managing Director for the American Society for Engineering Education. She has leadership experience with the entire pipeline of engineering education and most recently served as the Chief Academic Officer & Vice President for Academic Affairs at Marygrove College. She is a professor emerita of mechanical engineering and served on the faculty at Kettering University for 18 years, eventually earning the position of Associate Provost. In addition to her work in academia she has served in industry and government. She is a four-time gubernatorial appointee to the Michigan Truck Safety Commission and, as commissioner, served as chair for two terms. She also chaired the Driver's Education Advisory Committee and the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Committee for the Michigan Department of State—work that resulted in new legislation for Michigan. She began her career as an engineer for General Motors Truck Group and has been nationally recognized in higher education as both an American Council on Education Fellow and a New Leadership Academy Fellow. Currently Dr. El-Sayed serves on the Bloomfield Hills Board of Education, serves as a director on the BHS Foundation Board and serves on the Advancement Committee for the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). She is married and has three adult children.
Ray Phillips American Society for Engineering Education
Abstract
This research paper explores the keys to successful cross-race mentoring identified by mentees and mentors in the Increasing Minority Presence within Academia through Continuous Training (IMPACT) mentoring program. Two iterations of the IMPACT program paired Black engineering faculty with primarily White male emeriti engineering faculty for career-focused mentorship, networking, and advocacy. A great need exists to better understand that which facilitates successful cross-race mentoring, as it is the standard in the engineering professoriate due to the underrepresentation of senior and emeriti faculty of color in engineering academia. Thus, this intrinsic case study explores the perspectives of 16 mentees and 14 mentors on the keys to successful cross-race mentoring. Participant interviews were analyzed inductively and resulted in three themes: (1) self-awareness and empathy create trusting, honest conversations; (2) mentee career advancement must be core to the relationship; and (3) a history of racial allyship from the mentor is required. These findings reveal the importance of the IMPACT mentoring program creating successful mentoring matches in which mentees and mentors demonstrate self-awareness and empathy, focus on mentee career advancement, and mentors possessing a keen cognizance of the ways in which racism affects the lives and careers of Black faculty.
Mendez, S. L., & Tygret, J., & Bruwer, A., & Haynes, C. L., & El-Sayed, J. A., & Phillips, R. (2023, June), Keys to Successful Cross-Race Mentoring Relationships: Perspectives from Mentees and Mentors Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43915
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