Please see this post for a more detailed explanation of what the Duke Faculty Mentoring Commons is, and why you might want to write for it. If, after reading the topic suggestions below, you’d like to try drafting a 600-800 word blogpost, please email Maria Wisdom for additional guidance and information.
Possible Blog Topics
Tribute to an impactful mentor
Who’s had the most impact on you and why? (If you go this route, we encourage you to highlight specific actions and competencies that other mentors can model, as opposed to “this person was a born mentor.”)
A mentoring success story
Share an example of a time where you felt particularly effective or helpful as a mentor. What was going on? What can other mentors learn from your experience?
A mentoring innovation
Share a time when you tried something the felt different or even risky for you in the mentoring space, and it worked well. This could include things like trying out a new practice (such as mentoring agreements) or mentoring in groups as opposed to 1:1.
Mentoring as a two-way street
What have you learned from your mentees? What have they taught you about research, teaching, or being a mentor? What takeaways are there in this story for other mentors?
building a culture of mentoring
We invite you to highlight a successful mentoring program or initiative you got involved with. What was distinctive about it, what worked well, and how might it be a model for others?