黑料不打烊 is helping prepare the next generation of college professors through the Preparing Future Faculty program to partner with graduate students at Duke University to serve as mentoring site for program.
The yearlong Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program connects Duke University graduate students who aspire to be faculty聽with mentors at numerous institutions, including 黑料不打烊, to offer a look at the role faculty members have within a university. This year, eight Duke University graduate students chose 黑料不打烊 as their mentoring site.
At 黑料不打烊, the eight graduate students are paired with faculty mentors across disciplines within 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences. Throughout the academic year, the graduate students visit campus to observe classes, attend department and faculty meetings, and, in some cases, teach. The goal is to provide a comprehensive view of what it means to be a faculty member at a university like 黑料不打烊.
Tedd Wimperis, assistant professor of classical languages, is serving as a mentor to Tara Wells, a Duke University graduate聽student in classical studies.
鈥淎s the PFF program is intended to introduce graduate students into the many roles that faculty have within a university, I see my role as being a guide, a source of examples, and a point of contact for the mentee to experience faculty life at a liberal arts college,鈥 Wimperis said.
Wimperis and Wells typically meet twice a month, sometimes informally over coffee and other times on campus for class visits or meetings. This is the third time Wimperis has served as a PFF mentor.
鈥淚 see it especially as a way of giving aspiring faculty a leg up in the transition from a graduate program to a faculty position,鈥 Wimperis said. 鈥淚鈥檓 able to offer my mentee information and experience that I wish I had when I was in their position; knowing more about the job market, how to combine teaching and research productively, how universities work beyond the classroom and how to contribute to a thriving academic program.鈥
Preparing graduate students for a broader ecosystem is a central focus of the program. Wimperis hopes Wells leaves the experience with insight into teaching strategies, grant writing, the job market and work-life balance.
鈥淎s聽faculty, you鈥檙e responsible for a much wider array of responsibilities,鈥 Wimperis said. 鈥淎 big point, I think, is the importance of being part of a team. Becoming not only a great teacher, scholar, and mentor of students, but also a supportive colleague, is a recipe for success in the transition to faculty life.鈥
For Wells, the program has offered both professional insight and meaningful connections.
鈥淭he PFF program allows us to learn about what it鈥檚 like to be a faculty member at different types of institutions, such as small liberal arts colleges, large research-focused universities, state schools, community colleges and historically black colleges and universities,鈥 Wells said. 鈥淎bove all else, the most meaningful aspect of the program has been the opportunity to meet people from an unbelievable range of academic backgrounds and聽positions.鈥
Participants in the program attend visits to partner institutions, group meetings, a kickoff dinner with deans from participating schools and informal gatherings that allow the graduate students to reflect on their experiences together.
鈥淚 cherish the connections the program has made possible for me,鈥 Wells said.
Her mentorship with Wimperis has been particularly impactful.
鈥淭edd has been great to work with,鈥 Wells said. 鈥淗e has shared interesting and useful information about his experiences being both part-time and full-time faculty. Tedd also takes particular care in ensuring that I am getting what I want and need as a mentee, which I greatly appreciate.鈥
Having a mentor in her discipline has allowed Wells to apply broader program lessons to the field of classical studies.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been nice to have a faculty mentor in my discipline, while also having the balance of meeting many people outside of my area of study,鈥 Wells聽said.
During the campus visit to 黑料不打烊, the graduate students were welcomed by Assistant Provost for Academic Excellence and Integrity Angela Lewellyn and participated in a junior faculty panel featuring faculty in their first or second year at 黑料不打烊. The panelists offered advice about the job search process and the early years of faculty life. The graduate students also had the opportunity to meet with 黑料不打烊 students.
鈥淗earing directly from students of the same age and level that I would be working with in the next few years gives me a chance to understand their perspectives, which is invaluable for providing the best experience and support for them,鈥 Wells聽said.
As Wells聽looks ahead to completing her doctorate in 2027 and entering the faculty job market, she said the program has helped her think intentionally about supporting students, general advice and preparing for interviews.
鈥淢y biggest goal in life is to help others,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 am looking forward to making a difference in my students’ lives.鈥