Virtual Mentoring Circles 2025
LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education has offered one-on-one mentoring since the first Leadership Institute in 2015. Members and participants have shared a demonstrated need for and value of mentoring by senior, out higher education leaders. In 2025, we are pleased to launch a year-round program of Virtual Mentoring Circles.
Mentoring can provide social and psychological support, skills development and professional progress, and short-term and long-term career advancement and success (Montgomery and Page, 2018). As Richard Helldobler, Board past-president, has written, “Whether the mentoring is intentional or unintentional, our mere presence can be a powerful tool in reshaping social norms grounded in heterosexism and white male privilege.” (In Adler, 2022.)
Consider, if you’re the only out LGBTQ person in an executive position at your institution, or the only out LGBTQ person on your campus, you may have to look outside your institution or location to find mentorship that understands your situation. Whether you are looking for support and community to help you do your current job better, or you’re looking to find your next position, mentoring circles may be right for you.
Informational Webinar
Join Kristin Esterberg, Board President; Jim Berg, Executive Director; and Kirby Knipp, Program Coordinator for an information webinar on April 18, 1 pm (Eastern), 10 am (Pacific) to learn more about the program and how to apply.
Registration is required. Register on Zoom.
Program Structure
Guided by the principles of authenticity, visibility, and mutual benefit, Virtual Mentoring Circles provide intentional mentoring for populations underrepresented in higher education and address the hierarchies inherent in traditional mentoring relationships.
Virtual Mentoring Circles are small (five to six participants) and led by a trained facilitator. They meet on Zoom, three to five times over three months, for 90 minutes each. Our first cohort will begin meeting in July 2025 and continue through September 2025. We aim to have at least three Virtual Mentoring Circles in 2025; groups will meet quarterly beginning in 2026.
Who Should Participate
Virtual Mentoring Circles are designed for mid- to senior- executives at various leadership levels, including directors, chairs, deans, and vice presidents. Circles may be formed around particular areas of job responsibility (academic deans, directors of student life, provosts), regional groupings, academic background (humanists, STEM), or affinity groups. Within groups, there will be diversity of location, type and size of institution. Participants will learn from each other as well as from a trained facilitator who is a current or former senior executive (such as a provost, president, or chancellor).
Application Process
Mid- to senior executives in higher education are invited to apply to participate.
Successful applications will include:
- A description of your current position and responsibilities
- A current cv
- A commitment to a three-month program. Groups will meet July-September; September-November; October-December; and December 2025-February 2026.
- A concise description of your goals for the program
Deadlines:
- For July-September group: apply by June 2, 2025.
- For September-November group: apply by July 15, 2025.
- For December-February 2026: apply by October 27, 2025.
Completed applications should be sent to programs@lgbtqpresidents.org
Applicants chosen for the Summer 2025 cohort will be informed by June 16, and will be required to register and pay the fee by July 3. We will strive to place all applicants into an appropriate group. If an assignment is not made for a particular time period, efforts will be made to place the applicants into a later grouping.
Fees
Introductory fees for 2025 are $300 for members, $450 for non members. Leaders with backgrounds in the humanities and humanistic social sciences are particularly encouraged to apply.