Chapter 24: Faculty Paying it Forward: Building Facilitated Peer Mentoring Circles

The TEAM ADVANCE Peer Mentoring Circles Program is a facilitated peer mentoring program promoting a network of support for early-career faculty. Each circle consists of up to six early-career faculty (mentee-peers) who meet monthly for discussions facilitated by two senior faculty (mentor-facilitators). Circles are formed based on participants’ interests, goals, and values. The program follows a semi-structured curriculum of faculty development topics salient to early-career faculty and is supported by a professional development workshop series. The program offers flexibility for each circle to set their own agendas and center individual and group goals. Participants report valuing the ability to network and build solidarity with peers across campus with shared experiences, develop trust within safe, confidential spaces, and form supportive connections with senior faculty. The Peer Mentoring Circles Program has potential for scalability and shows promise for supporting early-career faculty across campus and social identities.