The Mentorship Program opt-in is now closed and mentor-mentee matches have been sent out.
This year, CPOP will be coordinating an inaugural Conference Mentorship Program to better support individuals who are new to the CPOP community and/or would like more guidance as they navigate the 2025 CPOP Conference. The CPOP Conference Mentorship Program is designed to give student, trainee, or new professional attendees a chance to get to know more people at the conference, obtain career advice from more established members of the prairie-oak conservation community, get feedback on their own research, and more!
How To Sign Up
The 2025 CPOP Conference registration form will have an opt-in section for attendees to indicate their interest in the program as either a mentor or mentee. There is also a short questionnaire for individuals to indicate their taxonomic/ecological/research interests, which will be used to make mentor-mentee matches.
How It Works
Prior to the April 14-17 Conference, mentor-mentee pairs will receive each other’s contact information and be encouraged to set up a one-on-one chat (either by phone, video call, or in person) to get to know one another and discuss shared goals. The Mentorship Program is what you choose to make it! You and your mentor/mentee can decide when and how often to meet throughout the conference, whether it be through attending poster sessions and talks together or meeting up for a meal or coffee break. Mentors are especially encouraged to help their mentees meet other people in the field and grow their networks.
There will also be a Mentorship Program session during the conference for all individuals participating in the program to gather together. More information on this will be available once the conference schedule is announced.