The SHA’s “Pleased to Meet Ya: A Mentoring Match-Up Program” is back! Our goal for this program is to connect like-minded junior scholars (defined as pre-publication of first book, including graduate students) with potential mentors, thereby further promoting a culture of generosity and reciprocity in our beloved SHA. The program will center around a meet-up between mentor and mentee at the SHA's 2023 conference in Charlotte.

We have gathered a great group of senior scholars to serve as mentors, and now we’re looking for mentees to pair them with. Junior scholars, if you’ve ever struggled to introduce yourself to a more senior scholar whose work you admire, this program can help facilitate a conversation and possibly establish a mentoring relationship. If you are interested in participating, please fill out the brief (less than 5 minutes!) Be a Mentee (https://forms.gle/kajUSoiJSdoqNdg96) form by August 31, 2023. The Mentoring Match-Up committee will connect mentees with a mentor and introduce them over email before the conference begins. All participants will be invited to connect at the inaugural New Meeting Attendees reception on Thursday, November 9, as well as a mentoring lunch on Friday, November 10. The mentor and mentees can also decide to meet-up elsewhere or even virtually, if they cannot attend the meeting in person. The SHA will provide participants a list of potential spots near the hotel in Charlotte for meeting up.

The time commitment for this program is intended to be minimal (30-45 minute conversation with each mentee), though of course, participants are encouraged to stay in touch and consider expanding their conversations after the conference.

All are welcome to apply. We especially encourage scholars from under-represented communities to participate. While we recognize the undue burden placed on scholars of color, female scholars, and LGBTQ scholars, we also know how essential it is for junior scholars of these communities to see themselves represented in the senior ranks and, better yet, to connect with them.

Any questions about the program should be directed to Lisa Tendrich Frank ([email protected]) or Kelly Kennington ([email protected]).

**All participants are reminded of the SHA’s Code of Conduct as outlined in its Sexual Harassment Policy (https://www.thesha.org/about).