THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

The Graduate School’s Offices of Graduate and Postdoctoral Success, Academic Programs, Postdoctoral Affairs, and the Office of Community Enrichment invite graduate faculty and graduate program staff to participate in a one-day interactive training on humanistic mentoring—an approach to mentorship grounded in care, clarity, and mutual growth. 

Adapted from materials developed by University of Southern California’s EGE Resource Center, these workshops offer hands-on tools and strategies to strengthen mentoring relationships, foster academic wellbeing, and create more responsive and effective learning environments for graduate students and postdocs. Participants can register for either the Evanston or Chicago in-person session.  

In this full-day training, participants will:  

• Strengthen their ability to clarify mentorship roles, expectations, and boundaries  
• Practice strategies for initiating supportive, non-stigmatizing conversations about stress, wellbeing, and motivation  
• Learn how to tailor mentorship practices to meet the evolving needs, goals, and work styles of their mentees  
• Develop or adapt mentoring compacts that promote clarity, accountability, and mutual respect  
• Reflect on how mentoring environments shape student success, confidence, and connection  

Faculty participants will develop mentoring agreements or compacts as a tool that establishes shared expectations between mentors and mentees. Staff participants will be encouraged to develop a draft agreement that could be used by faculty in their program. These workshops are interactive by design, which enhances the learning experience.  
 
Participants who complete the full-day, in-person training, engage in group activities, and submit a mentoring compact will be eligible to receive a certificate of completion from The Graduate School.  

AY26 Workshop Information

Date: December 11, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: TGS Commons, 2122 Sheridan Road

Chicago Campus

Date: April 24, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM 
Location: TBD

Register Here

Facilitators

• Sheehan Fisher, Associate Dean for Academic Environment  and Success
• Miriam Petty, Associate Dean for Academic Programs
• Majida Kargbo, Director of Education, Office of Community Enrichment
• Liz Stein, Director of Graduate and Postdoctoral Training and Development
• Beth Healey, Associate Director of Postdoctoral Affairs
• Aubrey Korneta, Associate Director of Professional and Career Development

Full-Day Training Schedule