My Faculty Mentor during the Fall semester of 2010 was Dr. Jeanette McCarthy who, at that time, was an Associate Professor in Department of Community and Family Medicine at Duke University. She was coordinating a first-year seminar with multiple lecturers and had asked me whether I would like to be her TA (more details in Practical Experience). I, in turn, requested that she be my mentor as part of the Certificate for Teaching program. Throughout the semester we met frequently to discuss the course, the students, and teaching in general. For exact details, please see our mentorship contract.
My mentoring relationship with Dr. McCarthy far exceeded my expectations. I had previously been acquainted with her as the DGS for the CBB program, but I never really got to know her. Since she became my mentor, I have grown to admire her. In class, she interacts easily with the students in communicating ideas and responding to questions. I enjoyed talking with her and I believe I learned a lot from a behind-the-scenes view of organizing a college course. I also found it interesting to discuss her path to becoming a professor while balancing her family life. Overall, the faculty mentorship was an invaluable experience for me and it gave perspective to my personal experience educating college students.
To read Dr. McCarthy's feedback, click here.