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As the academic world continues to embrace individuals from a wider range of demographic backgrounds, experiences, and career paths, there is a growing need for mentoring models that move beyond traditional frameworks to reflect the expanding complexity of faculty characteristics. This chapter introduces the Professional Playdate Mentoring (ProPlay) model, a flexible, egalitarian framework rooted in Communities of Practice (CoP) theory, yet purposefully evolved to foster multidirectional mentoring, inclusive leadership, and structured informality. Designed to dismantle rigid hierarchies and cultural taxation, ProPlay supports authentic, curiosity-driven collaboration across ranks and disciplines. Through informal yet intentional gatherings, faculty engage in shared problem-solving, research innovation, and pedagogical exchange. Unlike demographic matching, ProPlay privileges deeper intellectual goals and pedagogical challenges, over surface-level identity. This chapter outlines the model’s theoretical foundations, implementation strategies, and practical outcomes, emphasizing its potential to reshape mentoring culture in higher education. ProPlay offers a scalable, culturally responsive solution to mentoring that promotes equity, belonging, and collective advancement in an evolving academic landscape.

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Beyond Traditional Mentoring: Professional Playdates for Non-Traditional Junior Faculty

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Daisuke Akiba,
  • Grace Pai

摘要

As the academic world continues to embrace individuals from a wider range of demographic backgrounds, experiences, and career paths, there is a growing need for mentoring models that move beyond traditional frameworks to reflect the expanding complexity of faculty characteristics. This chapter introduces the Professional Playdate Mentoring (ProPlay) model, a flexible, egalitarian framework rooted in Communities of Practice (CoP) theory, yet purposefully evolved to foster multidirectional mentoring, inclusive leadership, and structured informality. Designed to dismantle rigid hierarchies and cultural taxation, ProPlay supports authentic, curiosity-driven collaboration across ranks and disciplines. Through informal yet intentional gatherings, faculty engage in shared problem-solving, research innovation, and pedagogical exchange. Unlike demographic matching, ProPlay privileges deeper intellectual goals and pedagogical challenges, over surface-level identity. This chapter outlines the model’s theoretical foundations, implementation strategies, and practical outcomes, emphasizing its potential to reshape mentoring culture in higher education. ProPlay offers a scalable, culturally responsive solution to mentoring that promotes equity, belonging, and collective advancement in an evolving academic landscape.