31 - Ushering in the Next Generation of Evaluators: Strategies and Approaches for Mentoring New Evaluators Early in their Career

Abstract Information: As new evaluators at various stages in our careers, our team has sought mentorship to strengthen our skills as individual contributors to evaluations. Through guidance from mentors, we have been empowered to consider career advancement within the field and network with existing professional evaluators to learn from their knowledge and experiences. Through these opportunities of mentorship, we have seen the substantial benefits that strong mentorship can have on new evaluators’ capabilities, confidence, and passion for the field. As the next generation of evaluators enter the field, mentorship will continue to serve as a key component of success. This Birds of a Feather session aims to discuss the best strategies and approaches for mentorship from the perspective of new and seasoned evaluators alike. During the session, participants will be encouraged to reflect on the types of mentorship that are beneficial to early career evaluators, including technical and non-technical skill development, simulated and real-world learning environments, and adherence to professional ethics and guiding principles. As new evaluators share their needs and desires for mentorship, professional evaluators will share their expectations and experiences mentoring new evaluators. Participants will discuss the best methods to identify a mentor in the evaluation field as well as how to navigate barriers to receiving and providing mentorship. This session will highlight the value and importance of bridging the knowledge of professional evaluators with the enthusiasm of new evaluators through mentorship.