This summer, NASW's Education Committee is once again offering an online virtual summer mentoring program for graduate and undergraduate students. We invite students and volunteer mentors to sign up by June 1.
Last year, nearly 100 students and mentor pairs were matched. Students produced diverse stories featured in NASW's newly created Student Newsroom, with several published in media outlets. During sign ups students will be invited to specify whether they wish to work with a mentor on a submission for the Student Newsroom and enter the Student Writing Awards (featuring three $500 awards!) or whether they would simply like the opportunity to meet with a mentor and ask questions.
Given that schedules are more likely to be constrained this summer for mentors and students alike, the 2021 format will be amended to allow for less formal meet ups. Students and mentors will get together for a 75-minute (roughly) kickoff event on Tuesday, June 8, 1-2:15 p.m. EDT.
A large portion of this time will be dedicated to one on one meetings between mentors and students. Mentors and students will then mutually determine any future meetings or communications. Mentors of those students who choose to write a reported piece will be responsible for submitting the student's work to the online portal no later than July 28.
Full details on the program are available at nasw.org/PerlmanMentoring21.
Students: Sign up to participate here by June 1.
Mentors: Volunteer here by June 1. Learn more about mentor expectations at nasw.org/PerlmanMentor
The David Perlman Virtual Mentoring program is named for longtime science writer and past NASW President David Perlman. Dave, who died last year at the age of 101, only three years after his San Francisco Chronicle, was a mentor to countless members of the science writing community and always made time for kind and supportive words, especially for early career writers. Thank you to volunteers on the Education Committee for their work in putting this popular program together.
