Women, Trans, & Non-Binary Faculty Mentoring Program

The Women, Trans, & Non-Binary Faculty Mentoring Program welcomes your participation.

Mentoring Relationships

Tenure-track faculty who would like a mentor are asked to complete a brief form outlining professional and personal interests.

Each participating assistant professor is paired with a tenured colleague who shares similar interests but remains at arm’s length from the promotion and tenure process. This multiple year match does not obviate the department’s responsibility to assign a guidance committee or mentor for each assistant professor; rather, it builds upon the work of departmental mentoring relationships.

Faculty appointed with tenure may participate in a year-long match to build connections at UW-Madison.

In addition, the program is home to a number of peer mentoring groups. These informal networks are intended to foster collegiality, promote learning, spark new ideas for research, and help newcomers find their way throughout the university.

Events

Program events are open to all, including:

  • Mentoring Lunch: Newcomers attend to learn about the program, including the roles of mentor and mentee, receive information about mentoring resources, and share observations and tips about effective mentoring
  • Annual Reception: Applaud newly promoted and tenured colleagues, recognize their mentors, and honor recipients of the Doris Slesinger Awards for Excellence in Mentoring
  • Conversation Series: Learn from panelists and peers while engaging in dialogue about topics of interest

About the Program

Robin Douthitt (former dean of the School of Human Ecology and professor emerita of Consumer Science) founded the Women Faculty Mentoring Program in 1989, when she was an assistant professor. Soon thereafter, the program was adopted into the offices of the Provost and the Secretary of the Faculty. The program was renamed in 2021 to reflect an expanded mission and commitment.

Today, the program is directed by Morton Ann Gernsbacher (Vilas Research Professor and Sir Frederic C. Bartlett Professor of Psychology) in consultation with a faculty advisory committee. Vice Provost for Faculty & Staff Affairs Kent Weigel is the Office of the Provost’s liaison to the program. Lindsey Stoddard Cameron (faculty services) is the Office of the Secretary of the Faculty contact and program administrator.

Nominate a Mentor

for a Slesinger Award for Excellence in Mentoring

Award Recipients
Nominees

Make a Gift

supporting the Slesinger Awards for Excellence in Mentoring