The President's STEM Mentoring Academy has been designed to support faculty who are mentoring STEM undergraduate students, especially those from underrepresented groups. It will provide resources on how to multiply the success among your mentees. It is designed to bring STEM faculty together in a collaborative environment to support professional and personal growth, and membership is a formal way of acknowledging and promoting the significant research-based service that faculty provide as mentors of STEM majors at Texas Tech University.

Although the President's STEM Mentoring Academy is hosted by Texas Tech University, it is available to faculty who are part of the BAT-LSAMP team. The Bridges Across Texas - Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (BAT LSAMP) is a partnership of Texas Tech University, The University of North Texas at Dallas, Dallas College - El Centro Campus, South Plains College, and Texas Southmost College. The LSAMP program is a National Science Foundation program designed to foster achievement in minority students seeking degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The program's overall goal is to assist institutions of higher learning in diversifying the nation's STEM workforce by increasing the number of STEM baccalaureate and graduate degrees awarded to populations historically underrepresented in these disciplines.

What faculty gain from PSMA

As a STEM faculty member, you know that mentoring students in the discovery process helps cultivate the next generation of scientists. Mentoring means more than simply teaching a student how to collect and analyze data. When you accept a student to work with you on research, you also mentor them in the culture of science, professionalism, and life. Mentorship of underrepresented and marginalized STEM students poses unique challenges that faculty may need to gain knowledge of to help create paths forward towards holistic success in their mentees. 

In the President's STEM Mentoring Academy (PSMA), you will develop your skills as a mentor outside your role of teaching students how to “do science.” This professional development will require time, self-reflection, and honest feedback. In addition, you will learn about challenges faced by underrepresented and marginalized students, how to create strategies for promoting the growth and success of your students, and gain experience and confidence as a better mentor.

Event Dates of the President's STEM Mentoring Academy

We will host 4 three-hour evening working sessions throughout the academic year that members are expected to attend. There will be two in the fall, and two in the spring, along with a banquet in April. The dates for the 2022 - 2023 academic year as as follows:

• Monday, October 3: 2 - 5 PM
• Monday, November 7: 2 - 5 PM
• Monday, February 6: 2 - 5 PM
• Monday, March 6: 2 - 5 PM
• Banquet in April: Date TBA

The PSMA is no longer accepting applications from Texas Tech University faculty for the Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 session. This opportunity is still open for faculty from other institutions. TTU faculty, please check back next spring to apply for Fall 2023- Spring 2024.

Session Information

Session 1: Self Examination and Mentoring Common Language

• Creation of ground rules/group commitments
• Self-work exercise & cohort development activities
• Fundamental concepts of mentoring: language, definitions, and concepts
• Intergroup Communications as tools to cultivate relationships and encourage
• vulnerability

Session 2: Forming Foundation of Mentoring Utilizing Holistic Critical Mentoring

• Brave Space vs. Safe Space
• Basics of Holistic Critical Mentoring [LINK]
• HCM in practice
• Managing Conflicts & Disagreement in HCM relationships

Session 3: Creating Sustainable Mentorships (Communication, Collaboration, Community)

• Communication Skills Evaluation & Support
• Creating Collaborative and Interdependent experiences for mentees
• Community & network development for mentors and mentees
• What's the elephant in the room: Structural and Systemic Inequalities

Session 4: The Ethics of Research Mentorship & WRAP SESSION

• Ethics in mentor relationships (need to discuss more with the leadership team as to what they are seeking form this topic)
• Unpacking mentors' responsibilities in creating institutional change
• Personal Commitment
  • Develop personal commitment plan around learning and growth in holistic critical mentorship
  • Self-reflection activity
  • Call to Action Plan
  • Closing Circle Activity

2022 - 2023 Facilitator : Michael Hunt

Rev. Michael A. Hunt, a native of Baltimore, received his bachelor's degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), and his Master of Divinity from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael has served as a university/college administrator, middle & high school math instructor, musical vocalist, and social justice educator, shaping the lives of today's leaders. His life's work, for the past twenty years, focuses on Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) within institutional structures by encouraging radical inclusion through social justice engagement & holistic partnerships. Also, Michael has returned to his alma mater as the Director of the UMBC McNair Scholars Program, working to increase underrepresented and underserved, first-generation, and low-income students' attainment of research-based doctoral degrees. His personal research interest seeks to bridge spirituality and STEM education by providing culturally nuanced resources for increasing self-esteem and promoting holistic critical mentoring. Michael is completing his PhD. at UMBC in the Language, Literacy, and Culture (LLC) Program. He embraces daily the belief that "If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain."

Questions?

If you have questions, please contact Nancy McIntyre at nancy.mcintyre@ttu.edu. 

 

This program is funded through the generous support of President Lawrence Schovanec. It is in collaboration with the National Science Foundation, Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, Award # 2110048.