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Prospective Faculty

WMSURE was created to increase academic, social, and research opportunities for William & Mary Scholars. Faculty mentors who foster relationships with individual students are critical to the success of WMSURE. There are over 50 faculty members supporting WMSURE, representing every school and department across campus.

WMSURE supports the work of faculty mentors by providing faculty workshops to provide education about issues related to diversity.

Interested in becoming a WMSURE mentor? Contact Iyabo Osiapem at ifosiapem@wm.edu or Katherine Barko-Alva at kbarkoalva@wm.edu.

Faculty Mentor Qualifications

Skills essential to a fruitful mentorship include: knowledge of college resources, positive attitude, sense of humor, persistence, flexibility, sensitivity, discipline and empathy.

Faculty Mentor Responsibilities

1. Get to know scholar on an individual level in order to enhance and cultivate a mentoring experience that, ideally, lasts beyond graduation.
   1. Gain an understanding of the scholar's academic and personal background.
   2. Be sensitive to issues of culture shock as scholars come from low-income and/or racially or culturally homogenous communities.
   3. Create an atmosphere of openness and trust with the scholar.
2. Be a source of inspiration, motivation and self-esteem boosting to the scholar by encouraging student to thoughtfully express ideas in both oral and written forms, ask questions, and think critically while respecting the diversity of opinion.
3. Provide academic focus and direction.
   1. Coursework selection advising
   2. Inform (and encourage) scholars of internships and fellowships
4. Supervise and assist scholar with research project.
   1. Review and comment on proposal to ensure clearly defined research goals and methodology.
   2. Help scholar develop and stay on a schedule of completion.
   3. Hold weekly meetings to discuss progress with research project and other issues of concern.
5. Advise scholars of post-undergraduate activities.
   1. Guide scholars through graduate school applications process by:
      1. Informing scholar of relevant programs.
      2. Assisting scholar in making appropriate connections with programs.
      3. Reviewing personal statements.
   2. Help scholar develop a resume/CV.
   3. Provide a recommendation.
   4. Prepare scholar for corporate culture of the professional world (attire, attitudes, networking skills)
6. Communicate with Program Director on scholar's progress, strengths and areas of improvement.