Mentoring Workshop Series

Over the years, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at the University of Maryland College Park, under the leadership of Dr. Blessing Enekwe, has periodically offered a range of professional development workshops focused on fostering productive mentoring relationships, developing leadership capabilities, and managing conflict within academic and research environments. These sessions are announced periodically via email and newsletters to our postdoctoral community.

Mentoring Workshops

Mentoring Workshops for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows
These sessions, inspired by the nationally recognized "Entering Mentoring Series" developed at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, have been offered to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows across various disciplines. Designed to address the key concerns and challenges identified by research mentors, the workshops help participants understand the dynamics of the mentor-mentee relationship and prepare them to become effective mentors in the future.

Over time, the series has included discussions on:

• Introduction and Maintaining Effective Communication
• Aligning Expectations and Assessing Understanding
• Addressing Equity and Inclusion
• Supporting Independence and Promoting Professional Development

These workshops encourage participants to critically reflect on their mentoring practices, enhance communication skills, and create supportive, inclusive environments that promote professional growth.

Leadership Skills Workshop Series

Strong leadership is integral to effective mentoring. To complement the mentoring workshops, Dr. Enekwe has also offered a series of leadership-focused sessions. These interactive discussions and activities cover foundational concepts in leadership, guiding participants to become more self-aware, inclusive, and confident leaders within academic teams and research groups.

The leadership workshops have included topics such as:

• Self-Awareness
• Team Dynamics
• Diversity in a Multicultural Society

Through exploring these areas, participants learn to strengthen their leadership presence, foster respectful collaborations, and uphold standards of equity and inclusion. Developing these leadership skills in tandem with mentoring approaches ensures that emerging academic leaders can guide their mentees and teams toward success.

Conflict Management Workshops

Conflict management is a vital skill set that intersects with both mentoring and leadership. Mentors must navigate challenging conversations and competing interests, while leaders need to maintain harmonious and productive group dynamics. The Conflict Management workshops help participants explore their own conflict resolution styles, understand their mentees’ perspectives, and develop strategies to address disagreements constructively.

By connecting conflict resolution techniques with mentoring and leadership principles, these sessions help participants:

• Identify and assess various conflict resolution approaches
• Enhance their ability to engage in difficult conversations productively
• Foster an environment where diverse viewpoints are respectfully considered

This integrated approach ensures that mentors and leaders are equipped not only to guide others academically and professionally, but also to maintain a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive setting for everyone involved.

Interested in Offering These Workshops for Your Unit?

We periodically announce these sessions to the University of Maryland postdoc community via email and newsletters. If your department, lab, or research unit is interested in hosting or adapting these workshops, please contact Dr. Blessing Enekwe at umd-postdocs@umd.edu or blessing@umd.edu.