Space Grant Mentor “PODS”

Background: Based on interest shown at the 2021 National Space Grant Director’s Meeting, members of the National Space Grant Communications Working Group implemented a “pod” mentor initiative intended to bring together a small but diverse group of peers to work collaboratively as a mentorship team. Involvement in a pod group is entirely voluntary.

What is a pod: “The Peer-Onsite-Distance (POD) model was developed in 2002…and [was] introduced at the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences” (Lewellen-Williams, et. al, 2002). Pods move beyond a mentor-mentee relationship by incorporating additional individuals into the mix. This spreads around the responsibility of an “expert” mentor providing advice to a mentee, and gives all individuals a broader level of multifaceted, long-term support.

Benefits: National Space Grant members and their affiliates will benefit from a pod mentor initiative by using these pods to help support new and incoming members of Space Grant, provide resources and support for long-term members of Space Grant as they encounter new program requirements and challenges, utilize the vast amount of knowledge already held within Space Grant by effectively sharing it with interested parties, and overall to build a stronger Space Grant community.

Design: The pod mentoring initiative will be a space where individuals can get to know one another, set goals, discuss specific challenges, and identify actionable steps to tackle those challenges. Each pod will be composed of 3-4 members that consistently meet to discuss challenges, successes, provide advice and updates, etc.

How to Join a Space Grant Pod: At least twice per year, the Space Grant Communications Working Group will solicit interest from new and continuing Space Grant members and affiliates. Email solicitations will be distributed through the sgcoordinators, sgdirectors, and the Communications Working Group listservs. The email solicitation will gather information via a Google Form from those that want to join pod. The Google Form will remain open for ~2 weeks. Upon closing, the Communications Working Group will use that information to organize pod group (see below) and put pod members in touch with one another. Remember, a pod is intended to have all members participate as leaders and listeners; pods will not identify a “lead mentor” because all members have important experiences to share, advice to give, and questions to ask. Therefore, it’s important that all members of the pod participate, email, and respond to one another to get a standing meeting organized. This is not the responsibility of the Communications Working Group, although we will provide suggested meeting topics and contact information.

How Are Pods Organized: In order to make each pod as diverse as possible, the Space Grant Communications Working Group will gather information using a Google Form from those interested in participating in a pod. Information gathered includes how many years of experience you have with Space Grant, which Space Grant state you represent, your working title with Space Grant, years of experience with Space Grant, and strengths/weaknesses you want to share/improve upon by being part of this pod. The Google Form will only be viewed by the Space Grant Communications Working Group to help organize pod groups.

Questions & Updates: For questions about the pod mentor program, to be placed into a pod, or to inform us that you are leaving a pod group, please email Michelle Coe (Arizona Space Grant, co-chair of the Space Grant Communications Working Group) at macoe@arizona.edu.