Mentoring Program
The WISAY mentoring program provides a fun and informal way to get to know undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing careers in science. This program provides a unique and valuable opportunity for women starting out to directly interact with more experienced women scientists who are already integrated into the scientific community. Undergraduates are matched with graduate students and post-doctoral fellows at Yale to receive mentoring, encouragement, guidance and support. For mentors, being able to share their knowledge and experience with their mentee and know that they have made a difference is very rewarding. Matched pairs are encouraged to meet one on one as well as attend events organized by WISAY including social activities, lectures, and discussions. Food and beverages are provided at all meetings as well as great company!
PLEASE JOIN OUR MENTORING PROGRAM IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION, FILL IT OUT,THEN SEND IT TO: shannon.stewart at yale.edu
Quotes from participants in the mentoring program:
Mentors
My mentee definitely makes me feel like I am making a difference in her "optimism-levels" for the better. And that makes me feel even more enthusiastic about telling her how cool science is, and helping her reach even higher than she already thinks she can.
Mentees
Speaking with my mentor, I have gained a little more clarity on what Im going to do with my future after I graduate. I felt a bit lost and overwhelmed thinking about my plans. My mentor helped me sort things out by letting me know about her past and how she got where she is. I also have a little more confidence when it comes to planning out the future, dealing with schoolwork, and trying to maintain a social life.
[My mentor] has helped me learn new study skills that have really helped in organic chemistry. In addition, my mentor has introduced many topics of interest to me that I had otherwise not known about [by] reading lab articles together.
[My mentor] has been an invaluable resource in helping me search for research experience, as well as a very helpful source of guidance on graduate school, postdoctoral life, and balancing a scientific career with a full life. Every time we talk, I feel that I gain a new perspective on what the "road" ahead of me --in terms of research, grad studies, living away from home, etc.--will be like in a couple of years. It's been immensely profitable (and fun!) for me to have this interaction with someone whom I respect and very much look up to.
The Mentoring Program gives out a comprehensive guide to mentoring to the mentor/mentee pairs.
The WISAY Mentoring Program was a huge success as noted with a front-page article in the Yale Daily News!
The Mentoring Program is fully supported by a Yale University Howard Hughes Medical Institute Grant.
