Mentoring
In 2015, CARAS began a mentoring program to help connect graduate students and early career professionals working with and/or researching alternative sexualities with more experienced researchers, faculty, and professionals. The goal of the program is to encourage the full development of the next generation of scholars and researchers addressing alternative sexualities communities, relationships, and family structures, and to help prepare professionals in health and other fields serve the needs of members of alternative sexualities communities.
The CARAS Mentoring Program involves a one-on-one mentoring relationship. The program matches graduate students and early-career professionals in academic, research, counseling, and other alternative-sexualities related career paths with more advanced scholars and professionals. The mentoring program has also matched community members engaged in scholarly or professional projects (e.g., public health initiatives) that would benefit from a mentoring relationship. Mentors and mentees commit to talking at least once a month by video conference, phone, or email during the duration of the mentoring program.
The CARAS Mentoring Program has an annual eight-month cycle from March-October. Applications for the 2025 Mentoring Cohort are open and linked below.
For current information, please visit https://carasresearch.org/mentoring (this page) and/or contact mentoring@carasresearch.org.
Please join the CARAS Announce List for updates about the CARAS Mentoring Program and other CARAS activities!
2025 Mentoring Cohort
Applications for the 2025 Mentoring Cohort are now closed. Mentee and Mentor matches will be introduced by February, 2025.
Applications for the 2026 Mentoring Cohort will be posted by October, 2025.
CARAS Mentoring Program, 2025 Cohort Meetings
During the period of the 2025 Mentoring Program, from March to October 2025, we will host Group Mentoring Meetings that provide presentations and discussions on topics relevant to mentoring program participants, and opportunities for mentees to discuss their work. The Group Mentoring Meetings are open to any CARAS subscriber and will be announced via CARAS media.
For questions and additional information, please email mentoring@carasresearch.org
CARAS Mentoring Program Expectations
Complete the Mentoring Program application.
Attend a Mentoring Program Orientation Meeting in February.
Reply to your mentoring partner within one week of being introduced. Complete a Goals Statement before your first one-on-one with your mentoring partner. Discuss goals and milestones during the first one-on-one with your mentoring partner.
Mentees and Mentors meet one-on-one at least monthly between March and October.
Mentees commit to attend at least five of the eight monthly Group Mentoring Meetings, held monthly between March and October, which provide educational presentations tailored for mentees and peer support.
Mentees are expected to provide a short update / presentation to other mentees and mentors about what you are learning or working on during a Group Mentoring Meeting, between March and October.
If you have any questions, please contact mentoring@carasresearch.org