Description
Effective mentorship enhances student productivity and career achievements, yet faculty generally do not receive mentorship training, nor does mentorship receive focused attention, evaluation, and recognition. The objectives of this paper are to 1) define mentorship and identify roles of a mentor, 2) highlight qualities and outcomes of effective mentoring, and 3) elaborate best mentoring practices, metrics for assessing mentoring, and challenges for mentoring the next generation of grassland scientists. Mentoring is a professional alliance where individuals work together to support the personal and professional growth, development, and success of the relational partners. Mentors should be altruistic discipline experts, have substantial mentorship training or experience, be accessible and giving of their time, and capable of identifying mentee strengths and weaknesses. Metrics of effective mentoring include being sought after by prospective mentees, providing mentor-mentee interaction leading to successful educational outcomes, mentees receiving awards and recognition while mastering critical career skills, developing a track record of mentee success in the job market and sustained mentee enthusiasm for their career, and finally, sustaining long-term personal and professional mentor-mentee engagement. Specific to training the next generation of academics in grassland science, there is need to maintain, or regain, a critical mass of grassland faculty who are trained mentors and capable of developing novel, creative, and impactful research questions. These combined skills attract funding and create exciting opportunities for mentees. By addressing important research questions, mentor-mentee teams advance grassland science, but importantly, they also serve end-users. When value is perceived by consumers of our science, it sets in motion a chain of events required to maintain a critical mass of grassland scientists and confirms the value and relevance of our discipline.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Mentoring Graduate Students for Academic Careers in Grassland Science
Effective mentorship enhances student productivity and career achievements, yet faculty generally do not receive mentorship training, nor does mentorship receive focused attention, evaluation, and recognition. The objectives of this paper are to 1) define mentorship and identify roles of a mentor, 2) highlight qualities and outcomes of effective mentoring, and 3) elaborate best mentoring practices, metrics for assessing mentoring, and challenges for mentoring the next generation of grassland scientists. Mentoring is a professional alliance where individuals work together to support the personal and professional growth, development, and success of the relational partners. Mentors should be altruistic discipline experts, have substantial mentorship training or experience, be accessible and giving of their time, and capable of identifying mentee strengths and weaknesses. Metrics of effective mentoring include being sought after by prospective mentees, providing mentor-mentee interaction leading to successful educational outcomes, mentees receiving awards and recognition while mastering critical career skills, developing a track record of mentee success in the job market and sustained mentee enthusiasm for their career, and finally, sustaining long-term personal and professional mentor-mentee engagement. Specific to training the next generation of academics in grassland science, there is need to maintain, or regain, a critical mass of grassland faculty who are trained mentors and capable of developing novel, creative, and impactful research questions. These combined skills attract funding and create exciting opportunities for mentees. By addressing important research questions, mentor-mentee teams advance grassland science, but importantly, they also serve end-users. When value is perceived by consumers of our science, it sets in motion a chain of events required to maintain a critical mass of grassland scientists and confirms the value and relevance of our discipline.
