The Graduate School hosted a virtual discussion on March 2 featuring Angela Byars-Winston, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to explore the evolving role of mentorship in graduate education, according to an April 8 announcement.
The event was part of the “Conversations in Graduate Education” series and focused on how effective mentorship can support both career development and personal growth for trainees. The topic is important as graduate students face challenges such as job insecurity, funding pressures, and changing social environments.
Byars-Winston described mentorship as a professional alliance that is often acquired informally but can be improved through evidence-based practices and intentional training. She said these strategies help mentors align expectations, communicate effectively, and nurture independence among mentees. A significant part of her talk addressed culturally responsive mentorship: recognizing the diverse experiences that trainees bring to their academic work. Her research indicates that when mentors acknowledge their mentees’ backgrounds and lived experiences, it leads to stronger scientific identity and greater satisfaction with mentoring relationships.
Byars-Winston also discussed some obstacles facing graduate education today. “We can’t change all of the challenges. But what we can do is listen, but not just listen with our ears. We want to listen deeply from an empathic perspective,” she explained. “It’s about showing up with empathy and creating space for trainees to navigate uncertainty while continuing to grow.”
Byars-Winston’s background includes leading diversity science research on factors shaping career development in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM). She led the Culturally Aware Mentorship initiative under the National Institutes of Health National Research Mentoring Network; chaired a National Academies consensus study report on effective mentorship; served on a national advisory council; received recognition from President Obama’s administration; won an innovation award for mentorship research; chairs the UW Institute for Diversity Science; and hosts its Diversity Science Podcast.
The conversation highlighted how intentional mentoring practices are increasingly vital for supporting scholars as they pursue careers amid new academic challenges.
