Home Communitybreadcrumb separatorRegionsbreadcrumb separatorRegion 5breadcrumb separatorMentoring Program
Region 5

Region 5 Mentoring Program

What is it?

Mentoring is an important aspect of one’s professional development. The NACADA Region 5 Mentoring Program allows for new advising professionals to be paired with an experienced advisor within Region 5 providing a greater network and collaboration among NACADA members in Region 5.

Mentor and mentee pairs will meet at the NACADA Region 5 Conference for a preconference workshop. During the preconference workshop participants will review the benefits of a mentoring program and create expectations for one another. Mentoring pairs will develop an action plan that they will use throughout the year of their mentoring experience.

Benefits for the mentor
  • Mentoring as Teaching
    • Refine your advising skills
    • Try new techniques
  • Pride in Success
  • Giving Back...to NACADA and to the Advising Profession

Quotes from previous mentors
Mentoring a new advisor was truly a rewarding experience. It was a great way to give back to the advising profession and to see what great talent and dedication there is among young advisors.  What was especially great about the experience was that I learned just as much as my mentee and I have been advising for over 25 years! | Melinda McDonald, 2017-2018 Mentor

I learned that a great deal of the role of the mentor is being able to listen and support your mentee in their goals.  I knew I didn’t have all the answers, but I didn’t need to.  The experience became a journey that we took together, providing the support and encouragement went a long way in supporting my mentee in reaching her goals. | Deb Dotterer 2017-2018 Mentor

“Being a mentor allowed me to grow as a Servant Leader. The advice and support that was shared with my mentee served as a reminder for myself. The mentor/mentee opportunity taught me to embrace different opinions, be non-judgmental, be resourceful and be open to learning about the drive and passion within the individual” |  Steven Taylor 2017-2018 Mentor

Benefits for the mentee
  • Support someone who has been in your shoes
  • Networking | Connection to another campus, state/province, and Region 5
  • Sounding Board
  • Mentoring as modeling
    • Learn new advising frameworks and techniques
  • Gain a greater connection to NACADA

Quotes from previous mentees
The mentoring process was very well thought-out and planned. My mentor helped provide me with motivation, ideas, and even how-to tips on a probation project for 3rd/4th year students. She was inspiring since she had experienced most of the issues since I was less than 3 years of having university advising experience. The mentoring program is crucial if matched with a well-rounded, experienced advisor who is willing to help and ask, "What can I do to help you to grow?" My mentor did and willingly! This program is great if you do not have in-house resources available or need outside input for growth and development of advisors(ing). 

I would recommend this program to newly minted and experienced advisors as an opportunity to network with other advisors while growing your skillset. | Aundra Freeman, 2017-2018 Mentee

My mentor has helped me set goals for my professional development and holds me accountable.  My mentor also helps me think about some of challenges both I and my institution face from a different perspective. Our relationship is such that we are able to share experiences to help us both become better student affairs professionals. I have greatly enjoyed growing with and learning from my mentor. | Brianna Burke 2017-2018 Mentee

Mentor/ Mentee Highlights

 


Mentee Beth Tremelling | Academic Advisor/Coach, University of Wisconsin - Platteville 


Mentor Jaime Langdon | Academic Advisor, Univeristy of Michigan - Ann Arbor

 

Why Jaime mentors: I wanted to become a mentor because I love advising and I love the students I work with. I've been advising for 12 years and while it's a challenge everyday with new situations to resolve on behalf of students, it is so rewarding. Mentoring isn't about just giving information to a mentee, it's about give and take with each other. I hope to be able to share my years of experience with someone who wants to really dig into this field and make a difference for their students, but I also know I will gain so much from this experience as well that will change my perspectives on advising and people overall.

Why Beth wanted to be a mentee:  I am interested in learning many ways of advising so that I can knowledgeably adapt my own method of advising to suit me and my students. I would also like the opportunity to network and meet advisors outside of my own institution.
Mentor/ Mentee Highlights

 


Mentee Alyssa Finder | Academic Advisor, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign


Mentor Jamie Heck | Director of Academic Affairs, University of Cinncinatti

Why Jamie mentors: During my involvement in NACADA, I have developed some wonderful relationships with fellow colleagues. These relationships and experiences motivated me to serve as a mentor. I feel that this involvement in the NACADA Region 5 Mentoring Program will be both rewarding and fulfilling for my paired mentee and myself as we continue to learn and grow together.

Why Alyssa wanted to be a mentee: My hope is the advisors who are mentors will assist me in acquiring the skills necessary to continue to hone my craft of advising. The camaraderie that will come from working closely with other academic professionals will bewelcomed as well.

2023 Application Info


General Requirements to Participate
  - Membership Status: Must be a NACADA Member at the time of the application and throughout the year of the program.
  - Must be able to attend an in-person preconference Mentoring Program Workshop on Wednesday, April 26. 
  - Attendance at the 2023 NACADA Region 5 Conference is required. The Great Lakes Region 5 Conference is April 26-28, 2023 in Windsor, Ontario.   

Requirements to be a Mentor
  - Must have worked in higher education and/or advising for at least five (5) or more years.

Mentor Application | Due Wednesday, March 1.

Requirements to be a Mentee
  - Must have worked in higher education and/or advising for four (4) years or less. (Applicants do not qualify if they have worked in higher education (advising, teaching, or other areas of student affairs/academic affairs) for more than four (4) years.)

Mentee Application | Due Wednesday, March 1.

Region 5 Mentoring Program Coordinator 
 Diana "Di" Dingman
Indiana University-Bloomington