The proposed Network for Enriched Mentorship (NEM) is a UConn-wide interdisciplinary mentoring network for graduate students. Through NEM, graduate students can connect with mentors who support them beyond their coursework and dissertations. Our aim is that by connecting with mentors who have experience navigating obstacles (e.g., systemic bias, personal hardship) or who serve as effective and accountable allies, more students—including those from diverse backgrounds—will feel supported and empowered in their careers.
In the past academic year, we paired over 60 graduate students from various backgrounds and academic programs with NEM faculty and staff mentors. Many of these mentees were able to establish meaningful relationships and receive valuable support from their mentors.
How it Works – The Process
1. Mentor declaring interest: Interested UConn faculty and staff (hereafter: “mentors”) submit their information to The Graduate School while indicating focus areas they are willing to discuss with a student.
2. Mentee declaring interest: Interested graduate students (hereafter: “mentees”) submit their information to The Graduate School while indicating issues/topic areas they would like to seek support.
3. Matching: The Grad School matches mentors and mentees based on the above information and communicate this back to newly matched mentors and mentees by an initial email, encouraging the mentor to reach out to the mentee. One mentor may be matched with more than one mentee.
4. Meeting: The mentor and the mentee then would be committed to schedule meetings regularly, in-person or online (e.g., at least once per month).
5. Length of commitment: The mentorship period should last for at least for one academic year.
Graduate Student Mentee Sign-up
If interested in participating, please sign up by October 18. Please reach out to gradschool@uconn.edu or Peter Chen (peter.chen@uconn.edu) with any questions.