UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #913

Mentoring Philosophy My mentoring philosophy is grounded in three key values: trust, respect, and accountability. Trust is cultivated over time and with consistent behavior that reinforces safety, confidence, and freedom of expression. Each interaction with mentees should include intentional focus on creating an environment that is safe from risk of harm, while creating opportunities to increase self-confidence and to have their voices heard. Respect is a two-way street, and modeling respect provides mentees a clear guideline for how to show respect. Respectful communication is one example of how we create a culture of respect for mentees and mentors. A willingness to be vulnerable also encourages mentees to ask for help, share their thoughts/opinions, and open themselves up to correction and constructive criticism. Finally, accountability is key to personal development, as agreements must be clearly communicated and frequently evaluated for compliance. Our ability to follow through on our agreements helps us to grow and to monitor our performance with respect to our own goals. Structured meetings and frequent review of written agreements helps to facilitate the development of a culture of trust, respect and accountability. The goal is to assist the mentee in achieving their self-defined professional and personal development goals.