Optimizing Cultural Awareness and Responsiveness in Mentoring Relationships Workshop

May 11, 2023, Virtual Workshop Sponsor by:

 Facilitator: Dr. Kelly A Diggs, CEO of Diggs-Andrews Consulting, www.diggsandrewsconsulting.org

This module was developed to increase the cultural awareness, and subsequent cultural responsiveness,

of mentors within mentoring relationships. Specifically, this session highlights the needs of trainees from

diverse backgrounds, including mentees from racial or ethnic groups that are underrepresented in STEM.

(i.e., African American, Latinx, Native American, etc.), and focuses on topics directly related to the training.

experience of these mentees. For mentors, the curriculum highlights the specific ways that their own.

cultural attitudes and beliefs can have an impact on mentees’ training experiences, such as how the

mentor evaluates or gives feedback to a mentee. Through case scenarios, self-reflection activities, and

small-group discussion, participants will engage in an interactive experience aimed at promoting.

discovery, learning effective strategies, and understanding of best practices in mentoring.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the impact that conscious and unconscious assumptions, preconceptions, biases, and

prejudices have on the mentor-mentee relationship and acquire skills to manage them.

• Expand understanding of cultural diversity in mentoring relationships (impacts of cultural diversity

dynamics on the mentee and mentor experience)

• Be more aware of cultural diversity in themselves and others
• Communicate effectively across diverse dimensions, including varied backgrounds, disciplines,

ethnicities, positions of power, etc.