Mentoring Doctoral Students: Challenges and Models for Success

Many graduate students may desire mentoring relationships with faculty members to prepare them for their future roles in higher education or other professions. But in these challenging times, how can these mentoring relationships develop? The question this chapter explores is how mentoring programs prepare those new to or unfamiliar with higher education to learn the institutional culture and skills necessary to become successful faculty members. The purpose of this chapter is to explore models and research regarding supportive mentoring relationships that can empower this learning. The chapter will conclude with a new model for peer mentoring, summarizing the ideas presented and suggesting directions for future research and practice in mentoring in higher educational institutions.