Meet professional goals with Staff Senate mentorship program
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 18, 2022) — The University of Kentucky Staff Senate is continuing the universitywide staff mentorship program this November through June 2023. The mentorship program strives to help UK staff grow professionally, gain new perspectives, develop and enhance leadership skills, and foster relationships between new and seasoned staff members.
Applications for the program are being accepted until Oct. 28, 2022.
The program is open to full-time (.75 FTE or greater) staff members can apply to be either a mentor or mentee. STEPS employees may apply to participate only as mentees, contingent upon their supervisors’ approval to participate. The program will match a mentee with a mentor who has the experience, knowledge and insight to assist the mentee in reaching professional goals. In turn, mentors can gain leadership skills, be exposed to new ideas and interests, and broaden their networks. Mentorship pairs will be announced in November and the official program will begin in December.
Mentorship program meetings are primarily virtual; however, mentorship pairs can choose to meet in-person if mutually agreed upon. By hosting the program virtually, both on-site and remote staff can engage in the mentorship program. Regardless of the chosen meeting format, tools and resources are provided to help navigate the program and ensure a successful partnership.
The Staff Senate's monthly “Lunch and Learn” series will also feature topics of interest that align well with the program’s mission, e.g., networking and relationship building, work/life balance, personality traits, and professional development opportunities at UK. Mentorship program participation is not required to attend Lunch and Learn events as they are open to all UK staff.
Former mentee and Staff Senator Dale Davis said his mentorship experience was excellent.
“My mentor had a lot of wisdom to share,” Davis said. “I think at a large university, it is important to focus on wisdom and utilize the leadership this university has to offer.”
Mentorship program applications for the upcoming cycle must be submitted here no later than Oct. 28. If you or a colleague does not have regular access to a computer to apply, but would like to participate, please reach out to the contacts below.
For more information about the Staff Senate Mentorship Program, contact Professional Development Committee Chair Stephen Reed (stephen.k.reed@uky.edu), and/or BobbiJo Allen (b.allen@uky.edu) at 859-257-9242.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.