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K-State Today

November 13, 2018

Choma represents Arts and Sciences at 25th annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring

Submitted by College of Arts and Sciences

Kimathi Choma, assistant dean for diversity, recruitment, and retention in the College of Arts and Sciences, attended the 25th annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring Oct. 25-28 in Arlington, Virginia. Bryan Samuel, chief diversity and inclusion officer, and Rebecca Laessig, Human Capital Services, attended the conference with Choma.

The Institute on Teaching and Mentoring is the largest gathering of underrepresented minority doctoral scholars in the country. The institute has provided workshops, recruitment and networking opportunities to enhance the professional development of the doctoral scholars with effective tools to be successful as faculty in postsecondary institutions. The goal of the institute is to provide a safe environment for doctoral scholars to share insights and survival tips for success in graduate work, build community among themselves and faculty representatives, and enrich their research and teaching strategies.

The College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, and Human Capital Services attended the Institute on Teaching and Mentoring to recruit potential faculty and postdoctoral candidates. This was K-State's first time having a recruiting table at the event, and it was an effort to diversify the pool of candidates for faculty positions across the university.

The following groups were in attendance: Southern Regional Educational Board-State Doctoral Scholars Program, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Minority Ph.D. Program, National Science Foundation Alliances for Graduation and the Professoriate Program, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Harriett-Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship Project, Gates Millennium Scholars Program, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, and the Student Support Services Program. Doctoral scholars and faculty mentors from institutions not associated with any of the aforementioned groups also were recommended by their deans and department chairs to attend the institute.

The 26th annual institute will take place Oct. 24-27, 2019, in Atlanta. Additional K-State representation is encouraged at this event.