Evolution of a Faculty Mentoring Program for STEM Women

As part of a five-year National Science Foundation (NSF) ADVANCE grant with the overall goal of recruiting, retaining, and professionally developing women faculty in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines on the Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) campus, ADVANCE at CPP developed a mentoring program for STEM female faculty. CPP is a state-funded, comprehensive university that primarily serves undergraduate students. This case study describes the development of the CPP ADVANCE mentoring program, from its informal beginnings, to a more formalized program with a variety of options for participants. The challenges faced in the development of the mentoring program, and the lessons gained from these challenges are shared.