Mentoring Events
Who We Are
What We Do
Previous Years Programs
Call for Mentors
Welcome to Protégé
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Since 1991, AWIS Palo Alto has worked towards building bridges between professional women scientists in the Bay Area and women graduate students of science at Stanford University through the creation of a one-on-one mentoring program. AWIS Palo Alto was one of twelve local chapters nationwide which received funding from AWIS National to support mentoring programs under the auspices of a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation (please see the July/August 1997 issue of AWIS Magazine, "Creating Tomorrow's Scientists: Models of Community Mentoring"). The Mentoring Committee believes that by sharing our time, our experiences, and our friendship in mentoring the young women graduate students of today, we will be assisting the creation of the scientific leaders of tomorrow.
The Mentoring Program encourages participants to take advantage of the vast network available through AWIS membership. There are over 200 women in science in the AWIS Palo Alto membership directory, which represents just a small percentage of the women scientists employed in the Bay Area.
Beginning in 2007-08, the Office of the Vice Provost of Graduate Education has generously supported this program.
BE a MENTOR
If you are a prospective mentor (that is, if you are thinking about becoming a mentor), AWIS Mentoring NEEDS YOU!! No special training is required--your life experience makes you qualified. Bring a friend; we always need more mentors.
Mentors reach out and create the framework for a trusting open relationship with their student protégé. They listen, give feedback, share experience, give perspective, suggest options, but they don't have all the answers. Some mentoring is done by email, but usually initial meetings are in-person. The real work is done 1-on-1 and the time requirement is both flexible and negotiable.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please see our Call for Mentors.
BE a PROTÉGÉ: GET a MENTOR
If you are a woman graduate student at Stanford University in science or engineering, you are invited to sign up to have a mentor. Mentors can help you through some of the stumbling blocks of being a graduate student. We all had those moments of doubt that we aren't good enough to succeed, unsure if we really want to succeed, not sure what other options are there other than academia, challenging days with your lab or advisor or committee, and figuring out how to balance the rest of your life with life as a scientist and graduate student. You are not alone and we are other women who want to help you through these challenges.
BE a PROTÉGÉ and BECOME a MENTOR
If you are a woman post doctoral fellow at Stanford University in science or engineering, you are invited to sign up as both a mentor and a protégé. Your experience through graduate school and getting your first job will be helpful to new graduate students. Please be sure to fill out both forms at Call for Mentors and Welcome to Protégé.
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Protégé Feedback
"P.S. I am really enjoying my mentoring experience." from a protégé in response to query at an evening program
"Elizabeth has exceeded my expectations in terms of availability, meeting when I need it (I recently emailed her with a subject line: I need you!) while allowing me to miss a meeting when I was in a work "groove". She has been available for advice via email as well, responding very quickly; that reliability is very much appreciated. Our meetings are very constructive. She ensures that all my issues are discussed before the meeting ends and her advice and input are direct, clear and certainly helpful. I leave our meetings feeling encouraged and motivated." Spontaneous praise for a mentor from her protégé.
This webpage was updated on August 15, 2008.