ASAP Mentorship Program
The ASAP Mentorship Program connects emerging climate resilience and adaptation professionals with accomplished ASAP members. The program provides ASAP Members a nine-month framework for engagement focused around the needs of the mentee, and gives the mentor an opportunity to share their professional knowledge, experience, and network.
What can I expect from the 2024-25 Mentorship Program?
With support and guidance from the Program Team, the ASAP Mentorship Program provides a nine-month framework to:
-
- Expand participant social networks
- Assist mentees in developing adaptation skills
- Connect emerging professionals with experienced members
- Create a space to solve challenges together
- Foster a safe community to grow with
Program Guidelines
The program team has put much time and effort to review your feedback and create a refreshed and updated program format.
Read the full program guidelines here.
| Mentees | Mentors |
|---|---|
| Lead the mentoring relationship | Support mentee’s pursuit of their goals and interests |
| Drive interactions by defining personal goals and setting discussion topics | Share knowledge, resources, advice, and contacts |
| Schedule and set up one-on-one calls | Hear and learn from perspectives from upcoming and new |
| Complete “Mentorship Profile” |
2025 Mentorship Program Timeline
To kick off the program, mentors and mentees participate in an onboarding call with peers (i.e. - mentors together with other mentors and mentees together with other mentees). The core of the program is the one-on-one relationship between the mentee and mentor, and each pair holds at least four one-on-ones throughout the nine months.
The Mentorship Program consists of four types of engagement opportunities, shown in the table below. Descriptions of each engagement opportunity are below.
| Timeline | Program Activity *Scheduled by pairs |
|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | Mentor & Mentee pairs announced |
| Feb 2025 | Mentor & Mentee Orientations & Additional Training Sessions |
| Mar 2025 | Speaker Series Call #1 *One-on-One Meeting #1 |
| Apr 2025 | Mentee Only Call |
| May 2025 | *One-on-One Meeting #2 |
| Jun 2025 | Speaker Series Call #2 |
| Jul 2025 | Speaker Series Call #3 *One-on-One Meeting #3 |
| Aug 2025 | *One-on-One Meeting #4 |
| Sept 2025 | Speaker Series Call #4 |
| Oct 2025 | Closing Celebration |
*Exact dates to be decided by polls for accepted mentors and mentees*
Program Activities
- One-on-One Calls (4): scheduled calls between mentee and mentor; allows mentor groups to connect and get to know each other
- Content could include: collaborate or provide feedback on a project; review the structure of resume or provide interview tips; brainstorm solutions to a challenge mentees are currently facing
- Mentee Only Call (1): required, mentees exchange questions with each other and program team
- *NEW* Speaker Series (4): features invited speakers from ASAP’s network on professional development topics decided by program participants, including collaborative opportunities with the ASAP’s Professional Opportunities Affiliated Group.
- *NEW* ASAP Mentorship Closing Ceremony (1): Celebrate the completion of the Mentorship Program, with mentees and mentors, in a final call to recognize everyone’s hard work!
Mentorship Program Team (2024-2025)
Tamera Breidenbach
Junior Environmental Scientist
Colorado State University
Varun Bhat
PhD Candidate
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Alexis Monti
Climate Resiliency Specialist
Wild Rivers Conservancy
Angelina DeBenedet
Program Coordinator
American Society of Adaptation Professionals
Questions?
Reach out to us with any questions at mentorship@adaptpros.org.
Not an ASAP Member but interested in the Mentorship Program? Not an ASAP Member but interested in the Mentorship Program? Reach out to Angelina DeBenedet, at adebenedet@adaptpros.org for membership options to participate. Learn more about our membership here.
Check out previous participants' experiences on the ASAP Blog.