About the Retreat

The Mentoring Institute: Growing Leadership & Support for STEM Research within NSHE is an intensive virtual workshop series for senior and mid-level administrators, faculty and students who mentor others, particularly in STEM research. Hosted by NSHE Sponsored Programs Office & EPSCoR and the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), the Institute will be the catalyst for future research mentor workshops, that may include professional development training and partnership & collaboration building retreats to provide mentoring support and resources within Nevada’s higher education system. It’s important for each NSHE institution to have representatives in attendance who are willing and able to further foster research mentoring within their programs, departments and/or institutions. Administrative, faculty and student representation from each NSHE campus is ideal as individualized/team working sessions will be held (see agenda).

Please register by Friday, September 25, 2020. All participants agree to fully participate in all sessions of the series, as well as the individual group sessions and pre-/post assessments.

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) offers consulting and mentoring services to individuals, academic departments, schools/colleges, and entire campuses. CUR provides these services by calling upon academic professionals who share its vision and goals; are experts in undergraduate research theory, practice, and assessment; have an understanding of higher education budget and policy issues; and are leaders in undergraduate education quality and sustainable institutional change. CUR’s faculty and administrative consultants, program reviewers, meeting facilitators, and mentors are experienced in visiting academic institutions, listening to your needs, and providing the help you need. Unlike the departmental program review service, the consulting service targets multi-departmental and/or institution-wide needs.

Meet the Mentoring Institute Facilitators

Anne Boettcher, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Anne Boettcher is Director of the Undergraduate Research Institute and Honors Program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.  She also served as a SACSCOC QEP Lead at her institute.  She is a past-president of CUR and has been a member since 1999. Boettcher has chaired the Undergraduate Research Programs Division of CUR; and served as facilitator and host for several CUR Institutes. Prior to joining Embry-Riddle, she was a professor of biology and undergraduate research program director at the University of South Alabama. While at South Alabama, she served as co-principal investigator for NSF-REU and principal investigator for Merck-AAAS programs, mentored more than 60 undergraduate and graduate research students, and integrated research and ethics components into all of her courses. 

Susan Mendoza, Grand Valley State University

Susan Mendoza is the founding director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS). In her role as director, Mendoza focuses on employing innovative programmatic design and inclusive mentoring as a mechanisms to build equity for students across disciplines and social identities. She serves as principal investigator for the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program at GVSU and co-principal investigator for the GVSU Beckman Scholars Program. Mendoza also serves as a Title IX and Title VII co-investigator at GVSU. Mendoza’s current research focuses on the intersection of disciplinary epistemology, high impact interventions, mentorship, and student agency. She earned her PhD at Western Michigan University in Educational Leadership with a focus on disciplinary epistemology. Dr. Mendoza was selected as a King, Parks Chavez Faculty Fellow in 2012. Prior to her role with OURS, Dr. Mendoza has held multiple roles at GVSU, Kalamazoo College, and Michigan State University in integrative learning, career development, academic advising, residence life, and internationalizing student life.