Diversity, along a range of dimensions, offers both challenges and opportunities to any relationship. Learning to identify, reflect upon, learn from, and engage with diverse perspectives is critical to forming and maintaining an effective mentoring relationship, as well as a vibrant learning environment. 

This session is part of a 2-part training series for mentors affiliated with the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. This session also satisfies the mentoring training requirement for all mentors with T32s, MARC, IMSD, and PREP research scholars.

In Advanced Research Mentoring Level 1, you discussed the importance of assessing mentees’ understanding and how to best facilitate their learning. In this session, mentors will expand upon this idea by considering how to foster an equitable and inclusive environment where everyone can do their best learning and create the highest quality of research, both because of and in spite of their diverse perspectives. 

This is the first session in the Advanced Research Mentoring Level 2 series. Attendance at this session is required to earn the VCU Credly Advanced Research Mentoring Level 2 Badge. 

Mentors will have the knowledge and skills to: 
1. Improve and expand understanding of equity and inclusion and how diversity influences mentor-mentee interactions 
2. Recognize the potential impact of conscious and unconscious assumptions, preconceptions, biases, and prejudices on the mentor-mentee relationship and reflect on how to manage them 
3. Identify concrete strategies for learning about, recognizing, and addressing issues of equity and inclusion in order to engage in conversations about diversity with mentees and foster a sense of belonging