Mentoring networks resume this fall

Semesterly reminder that short breaks help individuals regroup and gain fresh perspectives, that women benefit Networking and group mentoring as their stress responses moderated by social supports.  Stresses will remain high while there are so many unknowns, so let us know when you could be available (about monthly) to meet virtually* and a little about you so we might group participants at  https://forms.gle/2xEqkXLSjzsDbPKx7  Also, if specific cohorts are already meeting on their own, or would be interested in doing so under a larger umbrella, let’s talk!

* I asked prior to last semester for thoughts about virtual meetings.  The general consensus was “no”, that conversation might be inhibited or people might find it distracting.  However, campus closures necessitated an unplanned experiment with this format.  Participation did drop for most coffee breaks, but there was a lunch cohort that continued to meet every few weeks.  This was invaluable for sharing information across offices, and strategies from working from home, in spaces that hadn't been planned for that.  The were welcome brief respites with friendly folks rather than crabby colleagues (some of whom may, or may not, be kids or partners also plunged into work/school-from-home 😊 situations).  Since many will continue working from home due to continued need to reduce density on campus/lack of physical meeting spaces, and some folks haven’t yet been relocated for planned renovation or surprise ventilation issues, coupled perhaps with child- and elder-support issues, we’ll be continuing remotely for the foreseeable future.