• As a mentor, we ask that you judiciously give your time and support by providing sound, thoughtful advice to your mentee regarding how they can best achieve their own scholarly or creative ambitions while also meeting the expectations of the post-MFA or postdoctoral researcher position.
• We encourage our researchers to seek assistance from  mentors in establishing contacts; finding potential collaborators; navigating GAH and the Ohio State campus, community and resources; and providing feedback to them in setting their goals for research, teaching and other scholarly and creative activities.
• A significant role of GAH mentors is to collaborate in the creation of an annual mentoring agreement with their mentee. This goal-setting agreement will establish yearly expectations and accountability for the researcher.
• The commitment to be a mentor is open-ended and may continue as long as the mentee and mentor both agree the relationship is providing value and working well.
• We encourage mentees to reach out for one-on-one mentoring meetings and to use their mentors in ways that will bring the most value to them while also respecting their time and many commitments. We will also provide occasional opportunities for other networking throughout the year.

Questions?
Email GAH faculty director, Wendy Hesford (.1) or associate director, Puja Batra-Wells (Batra-Wells.1).

The Global Arts + Humanities (GAH) is the gateway to integrated arts and humanities at The Ohio State University. Global Arts + Humanities facilitates, supports and leads innovative trans-institutional collaborations and cross-disciplinary research, experiential learning and community partnerships that enhance the university’s capacity to foster cultural understanding and advance social change.

The Global Arts + Humanities will facilitate your mentoring as a post-MFA researcher in the creative arts/postdoctoral researcher. Mentoring is a key aspect of these positions. It will:

• Help you establish contacts and find potential collaborators at Ohio State.
• Provide feedback on setting goals for research and creative practices, teaching and other scholarly activities
• Navigate the broader Ohio State campus, community and resources.
• Provide sound advice on how best to achieve your own creative and/or scholarly ambitions and meet the expectations of being at Ohio State.

Establishing the Mentoring Relationship

The researcher should have a mentor identified at the time of hire (this is often the chair of the search committee). If a faculty member has not been identified, then we recommend that the researcher identify a mentor during their first semester and complete and submit a mentoring agreement to GAH Associate Director Puja Batra-Wells (batra-wells.1) by January 15 of spring semester.

Identifying a mentor

• We encourage you to seek advice from your department chair, colleagues and GAH faculty director Wendy Hesford (Hesford.1) in identifying potential mentors based on the specific needs you have identified. Puja Batra-Wells (Batra-Wells.1) curates the list of GAH-affiliated faculty and can help in identifying potential people. It is also helpful to think about what you hope to gain out of the relationship in advance of asking for potential mentors. For example, you might consider whether you would like to have a mentor to help you think about time management, community connection, exhibition or performance planning, and/or advise on talking to acquisition editors about book publication.
• Once you’ve identified a potential candidate, be sure to meet individually before making an official ask. It’s important that you feel comfortable with your mentor and that there is some connection between you. It’s also important that the person understand GAH’s expectations of mentors. Note: The tab above provides guidance for mentors. Feel free to share this.
• Once you have identified your mentor, email Puja Batra-Wells (Batra-Wells.1) with the following information: Name, position, unit affiliation, email, areas of expertise.
• In conversation with your mentor, complete the mentoring agreement we’ve provided, and share with Batra-Wells.1 by January 15 (spring semester). This agreement must be revised and submitted to our office annually.

Mentor Meeting Frequency

We encourage you to initiate mentoring meetings to make the most of this relationship while also respecting your mentor’s commitments and using their time judiciously. They will have a lot to offer, so don’t be shy!

Recommended Timeline

Semester I (autumn):

• Attend GAH orientation (to meet GAH affiliates and leadership)
• Identify a mentor (if one has not already been identified)
• Meet with Office of Postdoctoral Affairs for resources (optional)
• Share a creative/visual or research profile that will be featured on the GAH website

•Semester II (spring)

• Complete and submit an annual mentoring agreement to GAH office (batra-wells.1)

Ongoing:

• Meet with mentor
• Attend research-sharing events for post-MFAs and postdoctoral researchers (hosted by GAH)