Turnaround Mentoring Program Now Accepting Applications

It's no secret that having a good mentor can make a critical difference between career success and career stagnation -- regardless of a person's educational level, credentials or professional status. "Having a mentor is essential, particularly at a large university like UCSF," says Amy Levine, EdD, executive director of the Center for Gender Equity (CGE) at UCSF. "Regardless of whether you are an administrative assistant or a tenure track faculty member, a mentor can help you clarify your goals and achieve them much faster than you might do on your own." UCSF offers several employee mentoring programs, which are designed to assist individuals at different levels of their professional or academic careers. One program that is focused particularly on administrative staff is the Turnaround Mentoring Program sponsored by CGE. Launched in 2004 as a pilot program, Turnaround became a full-scale permanent program in 2005. CGE's Turnaround Mentoring Program is designed to offer a one-year mentoring opportunity for employees up to and including the Administrative Assistant (AA) II classification. The program pairs participants with mentors who are UCSF employees at the AAIII classification and above. The Turnaround program, based on the successful model used by the UCSF Academic Business Officers Group Mentoring Program, is focused on helping junior-level staff explore their career goals, and discuss the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to accomplish those goals. Now beginning its 2006-2007 Turnaround program, CGE is accepting applications from prospective mentorees, as well as mentors. The applications and full details can be found at the CGW website here. Applications for mentorees are due Monday, July 31, while applications for those interested in being mentors are due Saturday, July 15. To learn more about the Turnaround program, CGE is hosting a series of noontime orientation sessions for both prospective mentors and mentorees and for prospective supervisors. The schedule is as follows:

Turnaround Orientation Sessions - Parnassus:

For prospective mentorees and mentors

  • Wednesday, June 14, noon to1p.m., Medical Sciences, room S 157
  • Wednesday, June 21, noon to1 p.m., Medical Sciences, room S 157
For prospective supervisors
  • Tuesday, June 27, noon to 1 p.m., Medical Sciences, room S 157

Turnaround Orientation Session - Laurel Heights:

For all (mentors/mentorees/supervisors)

  • Thursday, June 22 , noon to 1 p.m., room 15
Regardless of the focus, prospective mentors, mentorees and supervisors are invited to attend any session. Employees who may be interested in being a Turnaround mentoree or a mentor should visit the CGE website for more information. Those with more questions about the Turnaround program should contact Vanessa George, assistant director, Center for Gender Equity.