Mentoring in Chemical Sciences: Building Resilient Networks Post-Pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a paradigm shift in coordination and collaboration constructs associated with the creation of chemical technologies. A review of the important roles of mentoring in the chemical sciences is presented in the context of current challenges and opportunities for the profession. The changing roles of mentoring as demonstrated by the range of programs from professional societies and institutions can be attributed to differing levels of access, technology and the recognition of mentoring excellence.
Formal mentoring programs should empower the participants to be mentored to independence; when combined with informal mentoring practices the impact is even greater. The author shares (and challenges the audience to also explore) what are considered “hidden mentoring figures” who have been present as informal mentors along the journey from pre-college to academic administration. The ensuing informal, productive mentoring relationships often go unrecognized in the wider chemical sciences research community.
The quest to equip chemical engineering protégés to develop and grow their own mentoring networks can be juxtaposed with formal mentoring networks in a manner that optimizes the use of resources (e.g., funding and talent) and the willingness of others to serve as mentors. The development of strong mentoring networks comes full circle when those who are mentored become leaders in their own larger scale self-directed formal/informal mentoring networks. The chemical engineering community is uniquely positioned to impact the profession at all career levels; creating a robust post-pandemic path forward.
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2022 AIChE President
Christine Grant is a Fellow, Life Member, and the 2022 President of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). She is a Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University, where she has served as the inaugural Associate Dean of Faculty Advancement for 12 years. In this role, Grant was responsible for faculty development, promotion, and tenure in the College of Engineering at NC State. She received an Sc.B. in Chemical Engineering from Brown University. She also has an M.S. and a Ph.D., both in Chemical Engineering, from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Grant has conducted research in surface/interfacial science and developed a green chemical engineering curriculum. Grant previously served AIChE as a member of the following: Board of Directors, Chemical Technology Operating Council (CTOC), Environmental Division, National Awards and Nominating Committees, and the Henry & Melinda Brown Endowment Steering Committee. She has also been Chair of the Minority Affairs Committee. For decades, Grant has been recognized for broadening the participation, promotion, and retention of underrepresented minorities and women in STEM. She is also a Life Member of SWE, NSBE and AISES. Her recognition includes the following: AAAS Mentor Award (2015); NSF Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) (2003); William W. Grimes Award for Excellence in Chemical Engineering (AIChE Minority Affairs Committee) (2019); Dr. Joseph N. Cannon Award for Excellence in Chemical Engineering from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) (2019); Women in Engineering Pro-Active Network (WEPAN) Bevlee A. Watford Inclusive Excellence Award (2017); American Chemical Society Stan Israel Award for Diversity: SERMACS (2012); Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society (2010); and the Council for Chemical Research (CCR) National Diversity Award (2009). Grant has been a Visiting Senior Scholar at AAAS and a Grant Expert and Program Director at NSF. She has also been active as a PI on multiple NSF ADVANCE grants and served on the advisory board (or consulted with) several ADVANCE schools, including Texas A&M University, Cornell University, Lehigh University, University of New Hampshire, and the University of Cincinnati. In this role, she promoted institutional transformation in STEM fields. She is also co-editor of the book, “Success Strategies from Women in STEM: A Portable Mentor” by Elsevier/Academic Press. She has contributed chapters to “Growing Diverse STEM Communities: Methodologies, Impact and Evidence” (2019) and the ACS Book “Overcoming Barriers for Women of Color in STEM Fields” (2020).
