Pedagogical Mentorship for Mutual Benefit

This chapter articulates a statement of purpose for Early Career Instructor (ECI) mentorship and explores some attitudes that help both mentees and mentors get the most out of those relationships. I argue that everyone involved benefits when mentoring interactions start from shared understandings, whether the participants come in with distinctly hierarchical levels of expertise or are helping each other as members of “mutual mentorship” peer support groups. I describe some practices for increasing the mutual benefit of mentoring relationships, provide examples of pedagogical mentorship on home campuses and within the discipline, and encourage readers to seek out their own opportunities for creative and healthy mentorship for mutual benefit.