The Big Tent for Statistics: Mentoring Required

ABSTRACT

Research supports the positive impact of mentoring on both job and career satisfaction. Recognizing this, the American Statistical Association (ASA) has started a new mission-centered focus on mentoring. This article describes the development and implementation of meeting-based mentoring programs at four ASA conferences in 2014 and 2015. We present results of the feedback evaluations from program participants and use them to motivate recommendations for creating and running conference mentoring programs and overcoming common challenges. These recommendations are applicable to creating and running conference mentoring programs in any field. We conclude with a discussion of the opportunities for the ASA to augment its mentoring programs in support of the professional development of its members.

KEYWORDS:

• American Statistical Association
• Conference mentoring programs
• Mentee
• Mentor
• Professional development

Acknowledgments

In addition to anonymous reviewers who provided useful feedback, the authors thank the ASA Committee on Applied Statisticians and the mentors and mentees who participated in the pilot programs for their support of these initiatives and their helpful comments.