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Mentoring program earns national recognition

An IUPUI faculty mentoring program is getting national recognition.

The Enhanced Mentoring Program with Opportunities for Ways to Excel in Research, EMPOWER, recently received the Award for Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in University Research from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities at their annual conference.

EMPOWER participants, from left, Philip Goff, Joseph Tucker Edmonds and Cullen Merritt. EMPOWER participants, from left, Philip Goff, Joseph Tucker Edmonds and Cullen Merritt.The award recognizes a research office that has implemented innovative approaches for improving the diversity and inclusivity of the institution’s research enterprise and reinforcing the research workforce pipeline.

EMPOWER is designed to support the research advancement of historically underrepresented faculty and diversify the research faculty. The program pairs assistant professors with tenured associate professors or full professors, and associate professors with full professors, for an academic year of mentoring.

“IUPUI and EMPOWER are committed to helping historically underrepresented faculty become successful in sponsored research and achieve significant professional growth and advancement. It’s an honor to be recognized for that commitment by the APLU,” said Kathleen Grove, director of the IUPUI Office for Women.

“Most importantly, the award is a much-deserved celebration of the dedicated and hardworking faculty who participate in the program, both as mentors and mentees,” said Etta Ward, assistant vice chancellor for research development in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.

EMPOWER is a joint effort between the IUPUI Office for Women and the IUPUI Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. Over 200 faculty members have participated in the program since its creation in 2011.