Task Force on Mentoring (2002-2005)

The APSA Council established a Task Force on Mentoring in 2002 to address issues of recruitment, retention, and integration of women and people of color in the profession.  The Task Force is fostering efforts to mentor younger political scientists, both graduate students and younger faculty. 

A major goal of the task force was to create a mentoring program that could also provide general professional advice and support that is the heart of mentoring for all political scientists. APSA has launched a new Mentor Database to encourage greater participation by all political scientists in promoting professional development and advancement.

The Task Force had two additional goals -- to encourage volunteers to participate in the program, and to ensure coordination and communication among already existing mentoring programs for women and minorities, as well as the traditional mentoring programs, in existence in the sections, the regional associations or within the APSA itself.

Several topics were identified as important areas linked to broader questions of professional development and advancement. These included achieving tenure and promotion, gaining recognition of one's research and teaching contributions, publishing, winning grants, honors and awards, advancing through the ranks, and finding opportunities to serve in the profession.

• Task Force Members
• Task Force Proposal
• Mentor Database

Task Force Journal Articles

As part of its mission to address issues of recruitment, retention, and integration of women and people of color in the profession, the APSA Task Force on Mentoring periodically published articles on some aspect of mentoring to help political scientists move successfully through the profession.

"Symposium - A Guide to Publishing Your First Book"
PS: Political Science & Politics, October 2005