We are excited to announce the 8th annual NCMEntoring Program! Launched at the 2016 annual meeting, the NCMEntoring Program aims to support the transition of graduate student members and recent graduate members from their graduate programs to professional careers. Early professionals (mentees) are paired with members (mentors) experienced in NCME-related fields: psychometrics, assessment, certification, evaluation, and other aspects of educational measurement. This experience offers mentees the opportunity to explore possible career paths and/or research interests and for mentors to support the development of potential colleagues and contribute to the field. The Program hopes to cultivate long-term relationships between mentors and mentees.
Each year, over 100 NCME members participate in the NCMEntoring Program and participant feedback has been positive. Here are some testimonials from past mentees.
Seongeun Kim, Ph.D. student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
My past two years as a mentee have allowed me to grow substantially academically. My mentor and I met regularly, and she guided me through various ways so that I can keep working towards a desirable, successful pathway. My mentor introduced me to psychometricians from the same cultural background as mine. This opportunity has allowed me to network and learn the daily life of psychometricians. Since we were from the same background, I could ask more tailored questions. And such deeper understanding of this field has given me the chance to think more about my future career. My mentor has been a great resource whenever I needed her help, such as guiding me to build an attractive CV and cover letter and discussing my research.
Dr. Yuan Ge, College Board
I had been with the NCMEntoring Program for two years. While I was still a graduate student at The University of Alabama, I met my first mentor virtually during the NCME 2021 annual meeting. I was early in my doctoral program and just got rejected from a few internship applications. My mentor kindly shared his personal experience with me both as a mentor and as a previous NCME mentee. We had several follow-up virtual meetings afterwards. He offered to support my dissertation research with potential data. When I was choosing between offers among several companies, he helped me connect with his acquaintances in the industry so that I could take an informed decision. My mentor in the second year of my participation connected me with other graduate students. He encouraged us to never stop pursuing research no matter what line of work we choose in the near future; he also suggested we publish our NCME presentations into full papers. We haven't met after NCME, but we constantly talked through e-mail. I know I can reach out to him whenever I need to.
The NCMEntoring Program is a fun and impactful membership benefit we don’t want you to miss! See below for instructions to become a mentor/mentee.
Mentors: If you are interested in promoting the success of future colleagues and you meet the criteria below, please respond to the brief survey (link provided below).
● You are an NCME member attending the NCME 2023 conference (in-person or virtually).
● You have at least two years of post-graduate work experience.
● You are willing to meet with an assigned mentee for approximately one hour during, or within two weeks following the annual meeting. You may meet with your mentee in-person or virtually.
Mentees: If you would like the opportunity to meet with experienced professionals in your field and you meet the criteria below, please respond to the brief survey (link provided below).
● You are an NCME member attending the NCME 2023 conference (in-person or virtually).
● You are currently enrolled in an accredited Ph.D. or master’s program in an NCME-related field, OR you have graduated from such a program within the past two years.
All interested mentors and mentees should respond to a brief survey at this link. Survey information will be used to pair mentors and mentees based on mentee’s career and/or research interests. Participants will also have the option to be paired with someone of a similar race, ethnicity, and/or gender.
Mentors and mentees may meet in-person or virtually, depending on their conference attendance plans. If meeting virtually, mentors and mentees should use their teleconferencing platform to meet. Those meeting in-person at the conference will be provided with information about designated meeting locations in the hotel.
The application deadline is March 21st, 2023. Sign up early to take advantage of this professional development opportunity!
This opportunity is organized by the NCME Membership Committee and sponsored by the NCME Board of Directors. For more information, please contact Yi-Fang Wu (yi-fang.wu@cambiumassessment.com). Thank you!