Mentoring Committee

NORDP Mentoring Program

Applications for the 2023-2024 NORDP Mentoring Program are now open and due by May 22, 2023.

 The NORDP Mentoring Program is a benefit available to all NORDP Members. This program enables research development professionals to network with NORDP colleagues who have volunteered to share their expertise, guidance, and support.

Previous NORDP Mentees are particularly encouraged to pay it forward by offering to serve as Mentors. #PayItForward.

How it Works

An underlying philosophy of the program is the Mentee drives the relationship and the relationship is reciprocal in nature. Participants have access to a variety of resources to enhance the mentoring relationship.

Participants are matched based upon criteria such as specific area of interest, institution type, years in research development, and goals. Once matched, the two individuals develop and coordinate the collaboration that works best for them. Although there are no formal rules for managing the interactions, we encourage a regular schedule of communication, whether meeting in person or connecting by e-mail, Skype, WebEx, telephone—and certainly getting together at NORDP meetings!

For those interested in developing peer mentoring relationships, Peer Mentoring Groups (PMG) are available based on the 6 Pillars of Research Development. PMGs are composed of NORDP members at many professional development levels, who have similar interests and share resources, provide feedback, and act as accountability partners in building skills. To join a Peer Mentoring Group please email [email protected]. The dates and times of scheduled PMG meetings are noted on NORDP's Event Calendar.

The 6 PMGs are:

  • Career/Professional Development
  • Communication
  • Enhancement of Collaboration
  • Leadership/Management
  • Proposal Development and Support
  • Strategic Planning and Advancement

See various Mentoring Committee presentations in the Webinar Archives section of the NORDP Members Only website.

Committee Mission, Vision and Values

Mission: Equip Research Development professionals for success by offering meaningful mentoring expertise, support and resources.

#NORDPMentoringMatters

Vision: As a leading research development organization, NORDP is recognized for a dynamic, sustainable culture of mentorship.

#PayItForward

Values: Inclusivity • Commitment • Accountability • Reciprocity • Empowerment

 #ICARE

NORDP fosters a culture of inclusive excellence by actively promoting and supporting diversity, inclusion and equity in all its forms to expand our worldview, enrich our work, and elevate our profession.

Committee Goals and Objectives

The Mentoring Committee fosters meaningful and sustained professional relationships driven by the needs of the program participants and built on a foundation of reciprocity. To that end, the committee:

  • Recruits members annually to volunteer their time as peer mentors, mentors and mentees in the annual NORDP Mentoring Program
  • Develops and implements mechanisms to match participants with the most appropriate mentors/mentees
  • Provides OnBoarding documents and webinars to ensure a successful start to your mentoring relationship
  • Collects resources for best practices in successful mentoring relationships
  • Offers participants guidance and support in creating and sustaining the mentoring relationship
  • Solicits and acts upon feedback from program participants about the effectiveness of the program
  • Organizes program events for mentors and mentees at the annual NORDP conference
  • Develops tools and resources applicable not only for NORDP, but also for our home institutions
  • Instills a culture of mentoring throughout NORDP

Committee Structure

The Mentoring Committee meets monthly as a full committee via Zoom or a conference call. Throughout the year, committee members meet on an ad-hoc basis to develop and refine program components. The committee relies on a wide-variety of skills and talents. You have a unique background and expertise that can be a valuable contribution to our work. 

We believe that mentoring is a professional responsibility. Through the committee’s work, we provide a foundation of resources and tools (Mentoring Toolkit) that NORDP members can apply in their own professional relationships, and in their work with faculty and staff. Come and join us as we support Research Development professionals.

How to get involved

Interested in becoming a member of the NORDP Mentoring Committee? Email [email protected] or contact one of the committee representatives listed below:

Eric Wayne Dickey, Co-Chair
[email protected]
Pre-award Administrator
Western Oregon University

Samarpita Sengupta, Co-Chair
[email protected]
Director of Research
Assistant Professor, Department of Physician Assistant Studies 
UT Southwestern School of Health Professions

Kathy Partlow, Co-Chair
[email protected]
Senior Proposal Development Coordinator
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

David Widmer, Co-Chair
[email protected]
Manager, Scientific Development
Grants & Contracts Funding Development Team
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Faye Farmer, Board Liaison
[email protected]
Executive Director, Research Director
Arizona State University