To flourish as scholars and teachers, new faculty need to develop a mentorship network, find community, and hone the skills that will enable them to progress smoothly through the promotion and/or tenure process. In addition to the mentoring new faculty receive within their departments and their colleges, the Office of Faculty Affairs is pleased to offer a New Faculty Mentoring Program to support these goals.
New faculty (tenure-track, library-rank, non-tenure track faculty and postdoctoral scholars) at UMBC are invited to participate in a year-long university-wide group mentoring program. This includes six opt-in workshops. Faculty can choose to attend as many of these workshops as they want; those who attend all six will receive a certificate of completion.
These in-person workshops will be scheduled for Friday mornings from 10:00 – 12:00 p.m. with coffee provided from 9:30 – 10 a.m. and a catered lunch afterwards. Although these workshops are structured as in-person events, a Webex link will be provided for those who need to join remotely. Provost van Dulmen will join the participants for lunch in the fall semester. Speakers will include faculty, administrators and other topic experts, and there will be opportunities in each workshop for group work as well. The program will conclude with a workshop in which we will reflect on what we’ve learned over the year and celebrate our accomplishments.
Did we mention the field trips? Yes, there will be field trips as well!! In the fall we will attend a Physics observatory open house and have the opportunity to take a tour of the telescope; in the spring we will attend a basketball game. All family members are warmly invited to attend these convivial gatherings!
Participants will leave the program with a community of faculty colleagues, a mentoring network map, a professional development plan, and increased clarity and confidence about how to align the demands of our professional lives with our core values. Please contact Orianne Smith (osmith@umbc.edu) if you have any questions.
Participant list, resources and presentations (access restricted to cohort-only)
New Faculty Group Mentoring Schedule: AY 24-25
Friday, October 25, 2024
English Department Conference Room (PAHB 428)
Coffee:
9:30 – 10 a.m.
Workshop:
10 – 12 p.m.
Lunch:
12 – 1 p.m.
Workshop #1: “What I Wish I Had Known”
This workshop will include a panel of faculty who recently joined UMBC sharing their experiences and tips for success. These faculty include Assistant Professors Sophia Hwang (Psychology), Adi Foord (Physics), Farah Nibbs (Emergency & Disaster Health Systems) and Lei Zhang (Information Systems).
At this workshop faculty will also begin filling out the UMBC Faculty Mentoring Map and will be provided with an overview of the different categories of mentors and supporters. Faculty will be asked to begin working with their departments and others to fill out an Individualized Development Plan (IDP) to assess their skills and develop a clear plan of action for the coming year that integrates professional and personal growth and satisfaction. This workshop will include opportunities for writing and reflection as well as group discussion.
Recommended Reading: Open Letter to First-Time Tenure-Track Professors (Note: much of this advice is also relevant for non-tenure track professors!)
Friday, November 8, 2024
Commons 329
Coffee:
9:30 – 10 a.m.
Workshop:
10 – 11:45 a.m.
Lunch:
Noon – 1 p.m.
Workshop #2: “Navigating Your First Few Years” and Lunch with the Provost
In this fun and interactive workshop, led by Dr. Ana Oskoz, Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs, new faculty will be provided with an overview of what to expect in their first few years in terms of departmental, college and university expectations. Dr. Oskoz will be joined by an assistant professor, a department chair and an associate dean who will share their perspectives as well.
Provost van Dulmen will join the participants for lunch after the workshop.
Friday, November 15, 2024
Commons 329
Coffee:
9:30 – 10 a.m.
Workshop:
10 – 11:45 a.m.
Lunch:
Noon – 1 p.m.
Workshop #3: “Aligning Your Professional Goals with Your Core Values (Part I)” and Lunch with the Provost
Our research, teaching and service are extensions of who we are as individuals, and the choices we make in life both professionally and personally should reflect what matters the most to us. At this workshop faculty will take time to think about what they’ve learned about themselves and their core values in the process of developing their Mentoring Maps and Individualized Development Plans, and we will continue to discuss how integrate these values into our working lives with a focus on self-care and self-efficacy. Participants will be working on the focus areas of “Scholarship” and “Teaching” in their Individualized Development Plans.
Dr. Felipe Filomeno, Director, Global Studies Program, and Associate Professor, Political Science, will be the guest speaker.
Provost van Dulmen will join the participants for lunch after the workshop.
Recommended Reading: “Do Your Career and Work Values Align?” (Inside Higher Ed)
FIELD TRIP!!! UMBC’s OBSERVATORY AND TELESCOPE!
Did you know that UMBC’s Observatory has one of the largest optical telescopes east of the Mississippi? All new faculty are invited to join us for a field trip to attend the Physics Observatory Open House on “Beyond the Singularity: The Mysteries of Supermassive Black” on Thursday, December 12. The talk and tour of the telescope is from 7 – 9 p.m. We will gather for dinner at the Fireside Lounge (Commons 303) from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m., and then stroll together to Physics 101.
Friday, February 7, 2025
Commons 329
Coffee:
9:30 – 10 a.m.
Workshop:
10 – 11:45 a.m.
Lunch:
Noon – 1 p.m.
Workshop #4: “Aligning Your Professional Goals with Your Core Values (Part II)”
In this workshop, participants will continue to reflect on aligning their professional goals with their core values, working on the focus areas of “Inclusion” and “Mentoring” in their Individualized Development Plans.
Our guest speaker will be Dr. Lee Blaney, Professor, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, and President of the Association of Environmental Engineering & Science Professors.
FIELD TRIP!!! UMBC MENS BASKETBALL GAME!
In the spring semester, new faculty and their families are warmly invited to join us in attending a mens basketball game. We will post more details when the schedule comes out. Meanwhile click here if you are interested!
Friday, March 7, 2025
Commons 329
Coffee:
9:30 – 10 a.m.
Workshop:
10 – 11:45 a.m.
Lunch:
Noon – 1 p.m.
Workshop #5: “Time Management”
One of the challenges of being a new faculty member is the transition from the workload in graduate school and/or postdoctoral research to the workload of a professor. How do you continue to conduct research while teaching and fulfilling your service obligations? How do you set priorities?
Our featured speaker will be Carolyn Forestiere, Professor, Political Science, who will provide concrete advice for managing your time. At this workshop we will discuss time management tactics, how to prioritize writing and research, and when to say “yes” to work that contributes to your professional development as well as the mission and vision of the university.
Recommended Reading: Time Management for New Faculty
Friday, April 11, 2025
Commons 318
Coffee:
9:30 – 10 a.m.
Workshop:
10 – 11:45 a.m.
Lunch:
Noon – 1 p.m.
Workshop #6: “Service as Leadership,” Celebration and Finalizing Plans”
At this workshop, we will reflect upon the challenges and opportunities over the past year, and celebrate our accomplishments. Dr. Orianne Smith, Associate Professor, English, will facilitate a conversation on shared governance and service as leadership. Joining her will be Dr. Mariajose Castellanos and Dr. Laila Shishineh, who will share their experiences as campus leaders.
Provost van Dulmen will join us in the second half of the workshop, and share his leadership journey. Certificates of completion will be distributed and celebratory cupcakes will be served!!
Finding your people is critical to the success and wellbeing of our faculty.
