NACIS Mentor Program

NACIS is committed to providing professionals with resources in navigating the early years of cartography and beyond. This commitment is a step in fulfilling two of our objectives:

1. To improve communication, coordination and cooperation among the producers, disseminators, curators, and users of cartographic information
2. To broaden opportunities and inclusivity for underrepresented and historically marginalized groups within the society

This mentor program was created to match mentees with mentors from among the numerous experienced NACIS members whose knowledge and insight will serve as a resource to the mentees. This program is designed to foster professional development and career growth and provides an opportunity for colleagues to establish a trusting mentor/mentee partnership. The length of the program is 6 months (March – August).

Mentorship program goals

• To coordinate a program for members to gain new perspective, foster new relationships, and grow professionally
• To encourage engagement across the career divide between senior professionals and early-career professionals
• To provide resources, promote professionalism, encourage interpersonal skills, and build confidence in early- and mid-career professionals, including and especially those of underserved populations
• To increase awareness of NACIS programs and activities

Program roles

Mentors: Mentors will share their professional and organizational knowledge and experience, while serving as a sounding board and guide for career-focused conversations. (NACIS members who have 5+ years GIS / cartography / geography experience.)

Mentees: Mentees will share their professional skills, career and networking goals, and individual development plans to direct the conversations and learning. Becoming a mentee is open to any NACIS member who wants mentorship, including students, early-career professionals, and mid-career professionals.

Benefits

Mentors:

• Giving back and nurturing the growth of the NACIS community and its newest members
• Exposure to new ideas and interests
• Personal satisfaction in sharing your career experience, knowledge, or skills
• Opportunity to reflect on your own practices
• Re-energizing your career
• Learning about new tools or trends
• Improving your coaching and management skills
• Increasing your visibility in the field

Mentees:

• Advice and experience with career planning
• Access to a sounding board and guide for career-focused conversations with your best interest in mind
• Learning tips and tricks from an experienced professional
• Exposure to new ideas, interests, and potential career pathways
• Personal satisfaction in sharing your experience, knowledge, or skills
• Opportunity to reflect on your own practices and accelerate your career
• Enhanced self confidence from positive feedback
• Increasing your visibility in the field
• Greater understanding of the NACIS organization as a whole

Expectations

• Commit to the full 6-month program. This includes recurring communication and interaction with mentee(s)/mentor and completion of two surveys (pre-program application for pairing and post-program for program assessment and improvement).
• Schedule regular meetings with your mentor/mentee(s) in person or virtually using a service like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, or Slack Huddle. We strongly encourage 6 meetings, once a month for 30 minutes; however you’re welcome to meet as your personal/professional schedules permit (more or less). Remember, the more you put into the program the more you will get out of the program.
• Share skills and knowledge from your professional experience.
• Inspire by providing and accepting positive feedback.
• Maintain confidentiality.

Important dates

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