Oklahoma Center for Mentoring Excellence

Elevating Mentorship. Empowering Faculty.

Since 2018, the Oklahoma Center for Mentoring Excellence (OCME) has advanced high-impact mentoring practices across the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences campus. Our mission is to support sustainable, equitable mentoring relationships that enhance faculty development, scholarly productivity, and professional satisfaction.

Mentoring Workshops

OCME conducts mentoring workshops for faculty to learn how to be effective mentors. Register for these workshops if you are a faculty member who has or will be mentoring medical students, residents, fellows, graduate students, or junior faculty.

Fall 2025 Mentor Workshop Series

Spring 2026 Mentor Workshop Series

For more information, see the 2025-2026 OCME Workshop Flyer.

Research Foundation

In 2017, OUHSC faculty participated in an intramural study assessing mentoring skills using a modified version of the Fleming et al. (2013) Mentoring Competency Assessment (MCA), which validated six core competencies of effective mentoring. The study, conducted by Drs. Valerie N. Williams, Natasha Mickel, Brandt Wiskur, Judith James, and Timothy VanWagoner, demonstrated:

98.5% agreement on a contemporary definition of mentoring (identified below).
Broad recognition of the importance of all six competencies.
Higher competency ratings among faculty with senior academic ranks.

Mentor Definition (2018):
An experienced individual engaged in a longitudinal professional developmental relationship with a more novice colleague or mentee; to aid the mentee’s transition toward fuller mastery of knowledge, skills, and aptitudes necessary for success, professional progression, independent contribution to science and/or practice, and productive professional engagement.

This research affirmed the need for a systematic, institution-wide mentoring approach and provided the evidence base for OCME’s training model.

Core Mentoring Competencies

Aligning Expectations
Mentors and mentees work together to establish clear, shared expectations—setting a foundation for mutual accountability, clarity of goals, and equitable collaboration throughout the relationship.
Assessing Understanding
Mentors assess how mentees process and apply new knowledge, adjusting guidance to meet their evolving developmental needs while promoting deeper comprehension and confidence.
Maintaining Effective Communication
Clear, consistent, and respectful communication is essential. Mentors employ active listening, provide timely feedback, and adapt their communication style to ensure meaningful engagement.
Fostering Independence
Mentors gradually shift responsibility to mentees, encouraging autonomy while remaining supportive. This balance promotes sustainable growth and long-term success.
Promoting Professional Development
Effective mentors actively support mentees in identifying opportunities, setting career goals, and building a roadmap toward academic and professional advancement.

Themes Enhancing Mentor Effectiveness

Articulating Your Mentoring Philosophy and Plan
Reflecting on one’s values and approach strengthens clarity and intentionality in mentoring, supporting consistency and alignment in mentor–mentee interactions.
Cultivating Ethical Behavior
Mentors model and reinforce ethical standards in research and professional practice, fostering integrity and responsible decision-making.
Enhancing Work–Life Integration
By acknowledging personal and professional demands, mentors help mentees navigate competing priorities and promote balance to prevent burnout.
Fostering Well-being
Mentors who create psychologically safe spaces and support mentee wellness contribute to more resilient, sustainable academic careers.
Promoting Mentee Research Self-Efficacy
Through encouragement, skill-building, and opportunities to lead, mentors build mentees’ confidence in their ability to conduct independent research.
Supporting Professional Identity Formation
Mentors guide mentees in exploring their values, strengths, and roles within their discipline—helping them construct a clear and confident professional identity. This intentional development fosters a strong sense of purpose, belonging, and long-term career alignment.
Building Learning Communities
Effective mentoring extends beyond one-on-one interactions by encouraging networks of collaboration and peer engagement. These communities promote shared learning, broaden perspectives, and contribute to a supportive and sustainable academic environment.

Program Structure and Activities

Initial Structure (2018–2019)

OSCTR Scholars Module Meetings – Structured support for OSCTR scholars with mentor guidance and career development.
Annual 6-Month Mentor Training – Addressing all six MCA competencies.
OFD Mentor Workshops – Campus-wide mentor training for faculty across seven colleges.

Evolved Model (2025)

Continued emphasis on competency-based training with integration of new mentoring themes.
Broader reach to include faculty, postdocs, and trainees across disciplines.
Stronger focuses on sustainability, equity, and faculty well-being.
Advanced mentor training (Conflict Management, Crucial Conversations and Understanding Temperament).

Since its founding, OCME has equipped hundreds of faculty, postdocs, and trainees with the skills needed to cultivate productive, sustainable mentoring relationships. Our commitment to mentoring excellence supports a stronger academic culture, where faculty and learners thrive together through intentional, equity-centered development.

OCME Workshop – Learning Objectives

Maintaining Effective Communication │ Aligning Expectations

Identify strategies for fostering open, bidirectional communication that supports psychological safety and productive mentor–mentee engagement.
Apply tools to co-create and revise expectations with mentees, ensuring equitable alignment of goals, roles, and responsibilities over time.
Practice communication techniques—such as active listening and constructive feedback—to enhance clarity, trust, and shared accountability.

Assessing Understanding │ Cultivating Ethical Behavior

Utilize inquiry-based methods to evaluate mentee comprehension and adjust guidance to support evolving learning needs.
Recognize signs of misunderstanding or misalignment in research or professional tasks and implement corrective strategies with transparency.
Demonstrate approaches for mentoring that reinforce ethical decision-making, integrity in research, and responsible conduct in academic environments.

Fostering Independence & Well-Being │ Promoting Professional Development

Design mentoring strategies that progressively support mentee autonomy while ensuring access to needed guidance and resources.
Discuss mentoring practices that promote sustainable well-being and balance amid the demands of academic life.
Facilitate mentee goal setting and career planning conversations that enhance self-efficacy, professional identity formation, and long-term success.