John M. Ruiz, Ph.D.Assistant Professor

Department of PsychologyUniversity of North Texas

A MENTEE’S PERSPECTIVE

Asst. ProfessorUndergrad RA Grad Student

Undergrad Participant

Early Career Demands

Traditional Expectations for Tenure• Teaching/ Graduate Students• Research Productivity• Limited Service• Demonstration of impact

Additional Attention/Time Demands• Department and University representation

• Department committees• Job searches• University representation

• Minority students• National service

Teach-ing

40%

Re-search50%

Service10%

Teach-ing

Research

Service

Add'l Service

Uni-versity

Add'l mentoring

A Mentoring Network

LGMA

LM

JS GT

BU JE

TS RR

How Can A Mentor Help?

Local-Level – Facilitate progress to tenure• Review activities and maintain focus for tenure• Facilitate resources, procedures, politics• Advocate within department, institution• Help to say “no”

Specific Example 1 – Local Challenge

1 Year• 3 job searches• 8 Department committees • Multiple Thesis/Dissertation committees • Multiple diversity guest lectures• University representation• “Token”

Mentor• Time management plan• Active lobbying• Who to say “Yes” and “no” to

How Can A Mentor Help?

Broader-level – Achieving an “impact”• Open “relevant” doors

• Nominate for professional positions• Editorial assignments• Icebreakers

• Support funding efforts • Honest, constructive feedback• Be a colleague

• Career guidance• Review opportunities• Advise on negotiations

• Handling adversity

Study section participation can build CV and grant writing skills

Specific Example 2 – “The Asterisk”

• Graduate school acceptance*• Internship*• Postdoctoral Fellowship*• Faculty appointment*• Professional society positions*• NIH funding*

“Did I get this opportunity because I earned it or because of my race/ethnicity?”

Specific Example 2 – The Asterisk

“Did I get this opportunity because I earned it or because of my race/ethnicity?”

My reaction:“Work twice as hard”

My Mentors’ reactions“Redefine by what you do with the opportunity”

A Bit of Advice

For Mentees• Build a network – local and national• Be open to input• Re-examine your path frequently

with your mentor

For Mentors• Don’t worry about racial/ethnic match• Local – run interference, facilitate matriculation• Broader – open “relevant” doors• Facilitate tangible outcomes/products – think CV building• Be a psychologist from time to time

Thank you