Vessela Vassileva-Clarke, Co-Chair of the NORDP Mentoring Committee
Fall marks an exciting start to a new mentoring cycle at NORDP! The 2025-2026 mentoring year runs from July through June, and we’re thrilled to welcome all mentors and mentees—whether matched in a dyad or part of a mentoring cohort—into this year’s program.
The June 25 Mentor Program Orientation featured this year’s NORDP Mentoring Award recipient and Mentoring Committee Co-Chair, Angela Jordon. New and returning participants were introduced to the program and joined breakout sessions based on their role—mentor or mentee—and format—dyad or cohort—to learn more about what to expect in the year ahead.
Behind the scenes, the Mentoring Committee, including the Match Team and the Mentoring Leadership Team, has worked diligently to make that stellar start possible. Updating our WisdomShare platform, opening the application window, carefully reviewing and confirming matches to ensure the best possible pairings for all participants, answering numerous emails about program registration, mentoring profiles, etc., are just a few of the tasks they completed. On behalf of both current and past NORDP Mentor Program participants, we extend our heartfelt appreciation and thank them for making the entire process feel easy and seamless!
We are especially excited to continue our mentoring cohorts, now in their fourth year! In this model, three mentees are matched with one mentor, creating a small community for ongoing peer‑mentoring discussions. Thank you to the many dedicated individuals who volunteered to serve as mentors—whether in dyads or cohorts—this year. Your willingness to share your time and expertise makes this program thrive.
Tips for New Mentors and Mentees
If you’re just getting started, here are a few quick tips to help you make the most of your experience:
- Log in to WisdomShare for your mentor/mentee’s contact information, messaging tools, and suggested milestones
- Explore the Learning tab in WisdomShare for guidance on where to begin
- Visit your WisdomShare Dashboard to find active Peer Mentoring Groups (PMGs), and join the ones that interest you—no matching is required for PMGs!
- If your mentor or mentee(s) hasn’t reached out yet, don’t wait—take the initiative to connect! There’s no single “right” way to engage
- Attend the monthly Mentoring Committee Meetings (3rd Thursday of the month all year) to learn the latest mentoring news and share your mentoring experiences and ideas with a group of NORDP members who are truly into mentoring
- Watch for upcoming McHuddles—informal gatherings hosted by Mentoring Committee facilitators where you can share ideas, ask questions, and learn from others through supportive and fun interactions
- Have questions, concerns, or suggestions? Reach out to us anytime at mentorprogram@nordp.org
Share Your Story!
The Mentoring Committee is always looking to highlight mentoring experiences. If you were part of a 2024–25 mentoring dyad or cohort and would like to share your story in a future blog post, please contact the McMc team at mentorprogram@nordp.org.
Here’s to a successful and inspiring 2025-2026 mentoring year—thank you for being part of it!
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