The American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the Spencer Foundation are jointly sponsoring a formal mentoring and professional development opportunity to specifically address the unique challenges faced by scholars with disabilities/disabled scholars seeking to become tenure-track faculty members. Up to twenty scholars will be selected to participate in the two-part program, which consists of a pre-conference seminar held on April 4-5, 2019 in Toronto before the AERA annual meeting followed by working with a virtual mentor who can share their experiences and provide general feedback on application materials.
 
This initiative targets promising doctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars with disabilities seeking to pursue tenure-track faculty positions. Selected participants will participate in eight hours of programming specifically designed to address the unique challenges faced by disabled scholars seeking to enter the professoriate. All activities during the pre-conference seminar incorporate principles of universal design to ensure accessibility for all participants.
 
Participants will work with established scholars with disabilities to learn how to navigate the culture of the academy as disabled scholars. Invited speakers will share strategies with participants to negotiate the application and interview process, in addition to establishing their identity as scholars in their field of study. Participants will meet with an ADA legal expert and university-based Equal Opportunity Employment professional staff members to discuss reasonable accommodations for their specific disabilities. Participants will also learn about post-doctoral opportunities sponsored by Spencer and AERA.
 
Participants need to cover their own travel and lodging. Meals are included in seminar participation. Following completion of all program requirements, participants will receive $300 to partially reimburse participation costs incurred. 
 
The AERA-Spencer seminar will be followed by a virtual mentoring component pairing participants with mentors who are current or emeriti faculty members or administrators at post-secondary institutions. Mentors will meet with participants twice virtually to provide guidance and feedback to participants as they develop an application portfolio and to discuss potential interview questions. Mentors with and without disabilities are encouraged to participate; and need not disclose disability status. Virtual mentors will be asked to participate in a survey evaluation of the program and will receive a letter acknowledging their service.

• If you are a doctoral candidate and or early career scholar seeking to participate in this unique opportunity, click here to learn more and apply.

 

• If you are a current faculty or emeritus faculty member or administrator and would like to learn more about the virtual mentoring program, click here to learn more and register for the program.

 
Please note that due to the nature of this program involving disability, the utmost care has been taken to safeguard participants’ disability status. Names and personal information will not be shared or published in any public forum. There will be no official photography and participants will be asked to refrain from posting pictures of fellow attendees and presenters without their explicit permission. Participants will receive a formal letter recognizing their participation once all components have been completed and may disclose their own participation at their personal discretion.