Mentorship and Meaning in Higher Education

Relaunch of This Prof Life: Women of Color in Higher Education Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Pat Sanders, offers a candid discussion on mentorship and sponsorship in higher education, with a particular focus on the lived experiences of Black women and women of color. Drawing from personal insight and professional observations, the episode examines the assumption that mentorship is inherently neutral or universally beneficial.

This episode explores how mentoring relationships for Black women and other women of color are often shaped by racialized and gendered labor expectations, requiring emotional, intellectual, and political work that is rarely acknowledged or rewarded.

The episode also assesses the limits of mentorship without sponsorship, highlighting how guidance and support do not always translate into structural change or career advancement.

Listeners are invited to consider how insitutions rely on mentorship as a symbolic solution, while failing to adress inequities in power, access and promotion.

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Dr. Pat is approaching 30-years as an experienced academic administrator, college director, mentor and full, merited professor whose passions center around equity, inclusion and equality.

She can be reached at hellodrpat@gmail.com where she invites recommendations for guests and topics for the podcast.

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Dr. Pat