Pedagogy and Professional Development

Mentor Up: Preparing for the 21st Century Classroom

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Abstract

There is growing evidence that senior faculty need and desire mentoring throughout their academic careers. This article highlights the retooling journey of one senior faculty member who mentored up with junior colleagues and former students. A mentoring grant program, sponsored by the Provost Office, provided modest support and gave structure to the program. Applying the Intergenerational Mentoring Model, the senior faculty member shadowed junior colleagues and interviewed former students. The target goals were to: identify best practices in teaching; increase knowledge of current fashion industry trends; and understand the requisite skills for students in the merchandising program. A key outcome of the project was the realization that hierarchical mentoring relationships are no longer relevant. All faculty have much to share and much to learn.

Keywords: networks, professional development, senior faculty, Mentoring

How to Cite:

Crutsinger, C. A., Burton, M. D., Pookulangara, S. & Zorola, M., (2020) “Mentor Up: Preparing for the 21st Century Classroom”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 77(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.11879