The Heart of Mentoring: The 2019 Hiram J. Friedsam Mentorship Award Lecture

ABSTRACT

Mentoring is one of the most important and rewarding tasks taken on by teachers and colleagues. It involves a love of teaching and a desire to assist others in their intellectual development and personal growth. Effective mentoring involves a variety of roles including that of teacher, facilitator, guide, counselor, and coach. Mentors must exhibit a variety of skills including competence in an area of expertise, good interpersonal communication skills, patience with process, openness and availability, and compassion. Everyone needs a mentor to develop and reach his or her full potential. This manuscript explores many of the facets of effective mentoring as the author discusses the ten mentors who shaped his life.

KEYWORDS:

• Mentoring
• growth
• self-understanding
• intergenerational relationships

Acknowledgments

I want to thank the members of the Awards Committee for selecting me as this year’s recipient of the Hiram J. Friedsam Mentorship Award. I owe thanks to my colleague, Dr. Lisa Hall, who wrote the most touching recommendation letter that anyone has ever written for me. When I read her letter for the first time, it made me cry – twice. When I read it the second time it made me laugh when I recognized the nautical theme running throughout the letter. I am also grateful to Danielle Capone, Michele Day, Rebecca Fields, and Judee Steward who wrote letters of support on my behalf.