Written by: NORDP Mentoring Committee Communication & Marketing (McMc) Team—Vess Vessileva-Clarke, Elizabeth Lathrop, Brooke Gowl, Jessica Brassard
Applications for the 2025–2026 NORDP Mentoring Program are now open until Friday, May 16! NORDP members are invited to participate as a mentor, a mentee, or both. The NORDP Mentoring Program is a benefit available to all NORDP Members. This program enables research development (RD) professionals to network with NORDP colleagues who have volunteered to share their expertise, guidance, and support. There are two options for matching mentors and mentees in the program: the 1:1 Dyad or the 1:3 Mentoring Cohort (one mentor paired with three mentees).
Key highlights from the 2025 Mentor Recruiting Info Session (4/15).
As a growing profession, NORDP always has more mentees than available mentors.
A small but enthusiastic group of NORDP members interested in exploring the possibility of becoming mentors joined the Mentoring Committee Co-Chairs on Tuesday, April 15, for the annual Mentor Recruiting Info Session. The session began with a brief presentation on what mentoring is and a description of the role of the mentor. People with years of mentoring experience shared stories and best practices from their mentoring “careers.” Additionally, participants were introduced to the NORDP matching program details, the different mentoring “flavors” (dyads and cohorts), and common myths related to mentoring.
During the Q&A, those with experience as mentors encouraged others to become mentors! One does not have to have years of RD experience or formal mentor training in order to be an excellent mentor. Additionally, mentoring is a two-way street. As a mentor, you will likely gain as much as you give.
Mentors are provided with resources in WisdomShare to aid them in their mentoring efforts. There are also facilitators they can reach out to if they have questions or encounter situations for which they could use help. Prospective mentors were encouraged to consider a mix of mentoring experiences in dyads, cohorts, or even a dyad and a cohort in parallel.
Reflections from some of our most experienced NORDP Mentors
NORDP is a community of people who are passionate about sharing and learning with each other. When it comes to mentoring, there are many people with years of experience to share. Below are some highlights from past NORDP mentoring reflections:
Anglea: “Every mentoring relationship is unique.”
Wendi: “Continue participating in this program and serve as both mentor and mentee. The 360-degree perspective these roles provide will enhance your professional capacity and enrich your personal attributes.”
Christine: “I encourage each mentee to drive our relationship by setting goals (and allowing them to evolve), while I provide tools, resources, contacts, and advice toward achieving them.
Mayla: “Ask lots of questions.”
Toyin: “Extending grace to yourself is critical.”
Julie: “Mentoring truly is a bidirectional exchange.”
Sandra: “It was also very beneficial to work through the MESHH Network framework with someone.”
Julie: “The mentoring relationship serves as a reflective experience that re-energizes my everyday work life.”
Sofia: “Kathy opened my eyes to the possibility of leaving the bench for RD.”
Eric: “Learning how people persevere in their work through challenges and opportunities has helped me become more empathetic.”
Erica: “My mentoring relationships have contributed to my career progression and have made me a better RD professional and leader.“
Erin: “My mentor took the time to reach out to someone who knows people at my current institution and through this contact, I have expanded my network.”
Jess: “Having my mentor’s perspective helps me reflect more clearly because he sees things from an outside point of view while still having the context of our RD mission.”
David: “I feel we have crafted an important connection that will last beyond the mentoring year.”
As applications for the 2025-2026 NORDP Mentoring Program open until Friday, May 16, we encourage all NORDP members to consider how you might benefit from participating—whether as a mentor, a mentee, or both. This valuable member benefit continues to strengthen our research development community through meaningful professional connections and knowledge sharing. Whether you choose the personalized attention of a 1:1 Dyad or the collaborative learning environment of a 1:3 Mentoring Cohort, your participation helps ensure that expertise, guidance, and support remain hallmarks of the NORDP experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to grow your network and advance your RD career!
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