As the landscape of higher education and the academic job market evolve, so too have the mentoring needs and expectations of graduate students and early career historians. People embarking on careers can face new or exacerbated challenges around work–life balance, nontraditional career paths, mental health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, and more. Mentors themselves need support to keep abreast of these changes, as well as changes to university policies and resources and other professional conventions.

This two-part panel aims to foster a wide-ranging discussion around mentorship philosophies, practices, and prospects for the future. This first session will provide an open forum for graduate students and early career scholars to share their experiences and perspectives on mentorship: what it means, what's working, what's lacking, and how mentorship needs might differ across demographics and career trajectories. After some key issues have been identified, participants will break into small groups to dig deeper into particular issues and brainstorm ideas for addressing mentorship gaps.

The second session will bring a diverse array of voices into the conversation, including faculty at different career stages, graduate students, institutional staff, as well as insights from the mentorship research. How can we distinguish between advising vs. mentoring? Can or should mentorship be centered on the whole person rather than just academic outputs? What inclusive mentoring models can better serve scholars across intersectional identities? What role can peer and community mentoring play? What professional development is needed to train effective mentors and advisors? By creating a forum to openly discuss mentorship's past, present, and future, we hope to raise critical awareness, share effective practices, and spur new thinking on this vital issue impacting all historians in a diversifying discipline. We invite undergraduate students considering graduate study to also attend and engage with these conversations. Annual meeting attendees may participate in either or both of the sessions.