Candid Conversations: Mentorship in the Humanities
Emily Greenwald, Historical Research Associates
Marc Johnston, University of California, Santa Cruz
Manisha Sinha, University of Connecticut at Storrs
Session Abstract
Supporting PhDs as they transition into careers alongside/beyond the academy requires reevaluation of the faculty/graduate student mentorship model in humanities disciplines. For graduate students interested in pursuing a variety of career trajectories post PhD, successful mentoring would include a variety of conversations and support structures that benefit from flexible, adaptive, and networked mentors. Currently, however, mentoring requirements and standards vary widely, leaving many graduate students with limited institutional support. This roundtable will explore existing and emerging mentorship models and their relationship to career diversity. As “pre-text” for the panel, Humanists@Work will record a series of five-minute video exchanges in which graduate students and faculty members build on one another’s contributions to the dialogue around mentorship. These video exchanges, while not required viewing for attendees, will serve as provocations for panelists and will be available online before and after the panel discussion. To view the video exchanges please visit: https://humwork.uchri.org/candid-conversations-video-dialogues/
To further expand the conversation beyond AHA, Humanists@Work will host a similar panel at the Modern Language Association's Annual Meeting in Philadelphia and communicate via a live Twitter feed.