Faculty Speed Mentoring Luncheon sparks cross-disciplinary connections

On Sept. 29, 2025, Faculty Success hosted its second Speed Mentoring Luncheon, a fun and fast-paced event that gives early career faculty an opportunity to gain insights from multiple mentors while expanding their professional networks.

Following lunch, participants rotated among tables led by pairs of faculty mentors and engaged in brief, focused conversations about topics ranging from time management and creativity in the classroom to seeking funding and navigating UNT policies.

“As an attendee, I appreciated being able to choose which discussions to join and receive valuable advice from mentors representing diverse perspectives across UNT,” said Harold Lee, clinical associate professor of hospitality, event and tourism management. “It was a meaningful and interactive way to connect, learn and feel supported.” 

Queshonda Kudaisi (pictured), assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education and Administration, focused on the tables most relevant to her current stage on the tenure track: creating a research plan, the publication process, planning for tenure and career planning.

“Each of these discussions either affirmed that I was on the right path or gave me new strategies and perspectives that I hadn’t considered before,” Kudaisi said. “Academia can sometimes feel like uncharted territory, especially for those of us from underrepresented backgrounds or nontraditional paths. Having someone who’s already navigated the road ahead and is willing to share their journey helps demystify the process and builds a stronger, more connected academic community.”

For mentors, the event was more than just an opportunity to share their experiences — it was a chance to hear fresh perspectives from new colleagues.

“The speed-table format was great for introducing me to a lot of excellent junior researchers, hearing about their exciting teaching and research, as well as the challenges they were facing on the topic of my table, work-life balance,” said Jacqueline Foertsch, professor of English.

“My co-mentor and I provided some words of advice, but it turned out that everyone had their own ways to time-manage and create a sense of well-being during busy semesters,” Foertsch said. “Mentoring is absolutely a two-way street — you’re learning and receiving the whole time that you’re guiding and giving.”

Russel Pears, a clinical associate professor of computer science and engineering who co-led one of two tables dedicated to teaching effectiveness, called the event a “unique and uplifting experience. I learnt as much from my mentees as I hope that they learnt from me.”

The Speed Mentoring Luncheon was created by faculty development specialist Marcella Clinard, who oversees the Faculty Mentoring Program in UNT’s Faculty Success office. The program, designed to provide faculty with structured support and resources for successful academic careers, uses a network mentoring model that includes traditional departmental mentoring but also encourages faculty to seek multiple mentors.

“Getting to know other faculty across the university helps our early career faculty have a sense of belonging, and our hope is that the connections made during the luncheon lead to productive collaborations,” Clinard said. “I’m grateful for the incredible generosity of UNT faculty members who are not just willing but excited to share their wisdom with their colleagues.”

For Pears, that generosity is fueled by gratitude and a desire to pay it forward.

“We are all junior at the start of our careers," he said. "I received superb mentoring from a number of my senior colleagues decades ago. I truly feel that I can contribute positively and help junior colleagues along.”