The Mentoring Workshop

For Early Career Women* Faculty in Philosophy


The Mentoring Workshop 2023

The Mentoring Workshop is an initiative of the Women in Philosophy Task Force, an umbrella group that works to coordinate initiatives and intensify efforts to advance women in philosophy. “Our aim,” writes WPHTF, “is to empower and facilitate through coordinated action. To learn more information on the WPHTF and their important work in academic and social issues, visit their website and their fantastic blog, “What is it like to be a woman in philosophy?”

The Mentoring Workshop conducted its inaugural workshop in 2011 following a model designed by women in the American Economics Association, which has proven remarkably successful.

There is mounting evidence that mentoring is important for success in academia. The Mentoring Workshop aims to build long-term mentoring relationships between eminent senior and junior women and non-binary people in the field of philosophy.

*While we retain the historic title for this workshop, the directors would like to emphasize it is intended for and inclusive of all women-identified and non-binary early-career post-PhD philosophers.


Support the 2023 Mentoring Workshop

The Marc Sanders Foundation is pledging a dollar-for-dollar match (up to $3000) for The Mentoring Workshop for the remainder of 2022. Contribute today!

To make a gift contribution in support of The Mentoring Workshop, please visit our Contribute Page by clicking the button, and under “Donation Preference,” select “A Particular Program” then “The Mentoring Workshop” from the drop-down menu.



The Mentoring Workshop is a project of the Women in Philosophy Task Force. It is currently funded by the Marc Sanders Foundation and has been funded in the past by grants from the American Philosophical Association and by the departments that have hosted each of the workshops, including the Department of Philosophy at University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Department of Philosophy at Boston University, the Department of Philosophy at the University of Kansas, and the Department of Philosophy at University of Utah. 

We are very grateful to have funding for the 2023 Mentoring Workshop from the Dean of Humanities at University of California at Santa Cruz, the Dean of Fine Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences at University of Massachusetts Lowell, the Department of Philosophy at York University, the Florence G. Kline Fund, and the University of Oakland.

Special thanks go to our local hosts for this meeting: the Department of Philosophy at the University of Missouri and Professor Claire Horisk.

About the Workshop

The 6th Biennial 2023 workshop will be held June 11-13, 2023 at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. The 2023 Keynote Speaker will be Yolonda Wilson (Saint Louis University).

Mentees will be assigned a networking group consisting of a mentor and four fellow mentees working in similar fields. Each mentor will provide written feedback on the workshop papers of each mentee and will participate in discussions at the workshop. Mentees will take responsibility for providing written feedback on the papers of their group members and will serve as discussion leader and first reader for one paper and second reader for another. In the long term, group members will actively monitor the progress of each other’s careers, offering philosophical feedback and, in the case of the mentors, advice about professional development along the way.

Why Attend?

Women and non-binary people are underrepresented in the profession of Philosophy, and many explanations have been offered for this fact. Two recent special issues of journals that address this issue include a virtual issue of Hypatia and a special issue of the Journal of Social Philosophy. Although there are several causes of this imbalance, good mentoring is clearly important for success in academia, and philosopher of other genders do not receive as much of it as cisgender men do. The Mentoring Project aims to build long-term mentoring relationships among eminent senior and junior women and non-binary people in the field of philosophy.


Eligibility:
Any woman or non-binary person entering or holding a faculty (pre-tenure or contract) or postdoc position in Philosophy at a college or university,  or who is unaffiliated, within 10 years of completing their PhD, and continues to engage with professional philosophy can apply. Since the workshop is aimed specifically at those who are navigating academic life after their PhD (whether on the tenure-track, in a postdoc or contract position, or independently), we require that applicants have successfully defended by the date of their submission. We would especially like to encourage applications from members of groups underrepresented in Philosophy.

Cost:
There is no charge for participation in the workshop, but we expect mentees’ home institutions to cover the cost of their transportation, room, and board. We recognize and deeply regret if the cost of attending the workshop is prohibitive. While The Mentoring Workshop operates on a limited budget, we invite those without institutional support to contact us directly, so that we can offer support and advice as best we are able.

Accessibility:
The Mentoring Workshop is committed to making the workshop completely accessible to disabled philosophers. All meeting, dining, and guest rooms are wheelchair accessible. Philosophers needing ASL interpreters or assistive technology are asked to communicate such needs on the form.

For questions or comments, please send an email to kori@marcsandersfoundation.org.


Check out the 2023 program HERE.

Co-directors

Susanne Sreedhar

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Carol Hay

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Alice MacLachlan

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Nico Orlandi

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Past Workshops

2023, Sixth Biennial Workshop (Forthcoming)

More Details

2019, Fifth Biennial Workshop

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2017, Fourth Biennial Workshop

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2015, Third Biennial Workshop

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2013, Second Biennial Workshop

Publications

"The Mentoring Project,"

by Louise Antony and Ann E. Cudd

Support The Mentoring Workshop: To make a gift contribution in support of The Mentoring Workshop, please visit our Contribute Page by clicking the button, and under “Donation Preference,” select “A Particular Program” then “The Mentoring Workshop” from the drop-down menu.

Contact Us

The Marc Sanders Foundation would be happy to hear from you. Please feel free to contact us (e-mail is preferred) about any questions you might have.

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Barry Lam

Copyright 2019 Marc Sanders Foundation