MPSA Mentoring Reception (Small Group Mentoring) at the Annual Conference
The 2026 Mentoring Reception will be held during the 83rd Annual MPSA Conference on Friday, April 24 from 7:00 – 8:00 PM at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, IL
(In-Person Participation Only)
The MPSA Mentoring Reception provides an opportunity for junior conference attendees to meet with accomplished faculty, PhDs, and non-academic professionals over refreshments in a small group setting during the annual conference.
Please note, you must be registered for the in-person conference to participate; there will not be an option to participate virtually. Please review you conference schedule before you RSVP for the Mentoring Reception.
Call for Mentors
The MPSA invites faculty members, PhDs, and professionals working in a non-academic or alt-academic setting to volunteer as mentors during the 2026 MPSA Mentoring Reception. During the event mentors will guide casual conversations with small group of no more than five mentees to discuss current research, professional aspirations, and career goals. Additionally, the MPSA has added the opportunity for undergraduate students to participate in the event this year. If you are a recent PhD, senior faculty member, or non-academic professional willing to provide mentorship to undergraduate political science majors, we would especially encourage you to RSVP.
Interested mentors should submit their information on this application form no later than Friday, March 6, 2026. By completing the short form, you agree to participate as a mentor during the MPSA Mentoring Reception.
Short biographical sketches of this year’s mentors will be posted on the MPSA website in mid-March. Potential mentees will be encouraged to RSVP and request specific mentors as availability permits. Notifications containing mentee names, contact information, and research questions/conversation topics will be provided to mentors in April. Shortly after, each participant will receive a message of introduction to others participating in the small group mentoring session. There will be no on-site signups for this event, so you will have plenty of time to review the information for those in your group prior to the event.
If you have any questions, please contact Lewis Hoss at hoss@mpsanet.org.
MPSA 2025-2026 Academic Year Mentoring Program
Each year, the MPSA invites faculty members to serve as volunteer mentors to junior faculty, contingent faculty, PhDs holding non-academic positions, and graduate students nearing PhD completion. If selected for the program, mentees will work remotely (via phone or video chat) with a faculty mentor in a semi-structured format over the academic year. MPSA staff matches one mentee per mentor based on the information provided by both parties. The total time commitment is approximately 10 hours. The program is open to current MPSA members.
The application deadline for the 2025-2026 Academic Year Mentoring Program has passed. If you are seeking mentorship, please consider attending the annual Mentoring Reception at the 2026 MPSA Annual Conference (more details can be found below).
What is the timeline for the Mentoring Program?
The MPSA puts out an annual call for volunteer mentors in the early summer, and the application window for mentees opens in July. Applicants are given a chance to review the mentor profiles and request specific mentors, although not all accepted mentees will be placed with the mentor of their choice. Applications are reviewed and the matching process is completed by MPSA staff in mid-September. Applicants who are accepted into the program will be notified at this time and asked to reach out to their mentor to establish contact and begin coordination of an initial meeting. Mentors who are matched will be notified and informed of their mentee’s particular professional development needs.
The program is generally competitive and not all applicants will be placed with a mentor. Preference will be given to junior faculty, contingent faculty, Ph.D.s holding non-academic positions, and late-stage graduate students who are nearing Ph.D. completion.
Questions?
Please contact MPSA Membership staff at mpsainfo@mpsanet.org.
See what previous participants have to say about the MPSA Mentoring Program:
“This is a really great program for scholars in an early academic career, especially those who lack mentoring support within their own department or school.”
“I had an amazing experience in this program! My mentor was truly caring, inspiring, and insightful. I definitely plan to stay in touch in the future, and I am grateful to the MPSA Mentoring Program for giving us the opportunity to connect.”
“In the past three years I have tried other mentoring programs, but my life changed completely when I was matched with my MPSA mentor. We truly became friends – he is kind, passionate, and helped me to manage my job market stress while guiding me along the way. I feel lucky and I believe he is one of the best mentors out there.”
“Excellent program. The mentorship agreement was helpful in setting expectations and timeframes for meetings. My mentor was extremely helpful and I am thankful for the opportunity and ongoing professional connection.”
“This was a great mentoring partnership where I found a colleague, advisor, and friend. Thank you!”
“The MPSA Mentoring Program is an excellent idea. It matched me with a scholar who has been invaluable in my academic job search, providing timely advice and useful tips.”
“This is a very valuable program. This is the second time I’ve participated and both times have been very useful for my development.”