The Div. 20 Mentor Matching Program recruited a new cohort of mentors and mentees in February 2019. Organized by Courtney Polenick PhD, and Yin Liu, PhD, the main goal of this program is to expand the professional networks of students and early career psychologists with interests in aging by connecting them to more established professionals who are affiliated with a different institution and can provide career advice and guidance. Undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows/associates and junior faculty/clinicians who are members of the division are eligible to participate as mentees. Division members who have completed their graduate and postdoctoral training are eligible to serve as mentors. Mentors and mentees are matched on the basis of aging-related interests and mentoring preferences. Each mentor-mentee match commits to a minimum of one 30- to 60-minute phone or videoconference meeting during the mentoring period, which currently runs from February through May 2019. Mentors and mentees are encouraged to follow up with one another as they see fit. However, the nature and frequency of follow-ups should be negotiated between the mentor and mentee.
Since the Mentor Matching Program started in 2018, a total of 33 mentors and 54 mentees have been recruited to participate. This has resulted in 64 mentor-mentee matches, with many participants receiving multiple matches upon request. Initial feedback has been highly positive overall from both mentors and mentees. Mentees have reported that the program helped them build on their professional networks, gain diverse perspectives on aging-related career issues and job market strategies and feel more confident about managing and navigating their career. Positive experiences reported by mentors include learning more about current trends in the field, connecting with new colleagues and guiding the next generation of psychologists focused on adult development and aging. For more information about the Mentor Matching Program, please contact Courtney Polenick, PhD, or Yin Liu.