UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Effective faculty mentoring and advising is the hallmark of the holistic development that comes with graduate education. To support graduate student success across the University, the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School released a new set of mentoring resources, including the Mentoring Blueprint, a guide for faculty mentors and graduate student mentees.
The resources were created by Douglas Orzolek, associate dean for graduate academic affairs, whose primary goal since joining the Fox Graduate School in January 2026 is to enhance mentoring across the University.
“Mentoring graduate students isn't just about advising a course of study; it's a long-term relationship that touches research, teaching, career development, and often years of close collaboration,” said Orzolek. “By providing the foundational theory and case studies for discussion, we hope to give faculty and students a shared language and a set of tools they can return to throughout the entire graduate school journey.”
The Mentoring Blueprint includes the background and theoretical foundation of graduate mentoring. It also includes a series of case studies of real-life situations that may be encountered in graduate school, with discussion prompts to guide conversations. There are case studies for master’s and professional degree programs, and the early, middle, and late years of doctoral degree programs. The scenarios addressing common challenges such as navigating co-mentoring and interdisciplinary committees, managing work-life balance, and preparing for career transitions after graduation.
“Mentoring is one of the clearest ways we can invest in graduate student success, and it's a priority in our strategic plan for exactly that reason," said Levon T. Esters, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Fox Graduate School. “These resources give faculty and students a common starting point to have productive conversations at the right time, instead of leaving those conversations to chance.”
In addition to the Mentoring Blueprint, students can find a new Degree Journey Map that lists simple strategies and topics to consider throughout graduate school across five key areas — degree milestones, research and scholarship, teaching and pedagogy, career exploration, and personal growth and development — as well as a comprehensive set of Mentoring Resources connecting students and faculty to dozens of offices and programs that support mentoring and professional development at Penn State.
For more information, visit the Fox Graduate School’s mentoring webpage.