Moreno addressed key issues and obstacles for mentors and their first-year graduate students, emphasizing particular needs and myths about diverse student populations. As she and attending faculty and staff delved further into the discussion, they explored a number of elements essential to building a strong foundation for the mentor-student relationship. They agreed: creating a sense of confidence, open-mindedness, comfort, and accountability - on both sides - is crucial to following through with any advanced education plan.

There will be three more MCT sessions in the academic year, the next being held on Jan. 16, 2014, geared toward faculty and staff in STEM disciplines. This next luncheon seminar will feature "Creating an Individual Development Plan Using myIDP" with Bill Lindstaedt MS, Director of Office of Career and Professional Development of the University of California, San Francisco. Lindstaedt is co-author of "myIDP," a career development tool hosted by Science magazine's careers website.

Registration for the next MCT event with Bill Lindstaedt is now open to faculty and staff! Please contact Jessica Paisley at jpaisley@ucdavis.edu to register.

Other upcoming MCT events will be held March 12 and May 8, 2013. For more information about the MCT program please visit our website: https://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/faculty-staff/mentoring-critical-transitions