Mentors should contact the Director of Mentorship and Research, Sarah Shoemaker (shoemaker@ncssm.edu, 919-306-0449) at any time with any concerns or questions about any aspect of the program.  It is our top priority to ensure that this partnership is as rewarding for the mentors as it is for our students!  

WHO we are:

Dr. Sarah Shoemaker Director (primary contact)                shoemaker@ncssm.edu Cell: 919-306-0449

Mrs. Mary Slawter Coordinator

Dr. Letitia Hubbard Lead Instructor 

Mr. Bobby Warren Lead Instructor

Ms. Emily Churchman Instructional Assistant/Research Coach

Dr. Zoe Loh Instructional Assistant/Research Coach

Dr. Ashlyn Rickard Instructional Assistant/Research Coach

Mr. Bobby Warren Instructional Assistant/Research Coach

Taylor Nguyen Data Management Specialist

Esha Shah Program Assistant

Joey Talerico Program Assistant

Shreya Ganapathy Senior Leader

Jeffrey Liu Senior Leader

Nikhil Vemuri Senior Leader

WHO we serve:

• our students

• our volunteer mentors

• the institutes, companies, and organizations who support mentor’s participation

• our own faculty/staff who offer on-campus opportunities for research and innovation

• our alum

Support for the Mentorship Program is provided by:

• Burroughs Wellcome Fund

• NCSSM State funds

• NCSSM Foundation (To support our Foundation, go to https://www.ncssm.edu/donate)

1. Complete the Mentor Enrollment Form for Mentorship 2025-2026 (required each year)

2. Complete minor compliance process (required each year; institutional contacts listed below)

   • • Instructions for compliance will be communicated to mentors starting in mid-April with required completion by May 31.

     • Compliance includes:   1) Annual Background Check  2) Protection of Minors Training  

       • • REQUIRED for the primary mentor interacting with the student virtually or in person

         • ALSO REQUIRED for all additional mentors who will interact with the student without the primary mentor present (virtually or in person)

It is strongly recommended to have more than one mentor with compliance as a back-up mentor in case the primary mentor is unavailable

2. • • Virtual conference meetings with NCSSM student must be accessible for observation by NCSSM staff (instructions below)

3.  Set up an initial virtual meeting to connect with your mentee(s) before the start date

   • Be sure the primary day-to-day mentor is included in this initial meeting if possible  

   • Previous mentors have shared that a meeting jumpstarts the experience for mentors/mentees (suggested ideas for discussion below)

     • • • Discover the mentee's interest and goals for the experience

         • Discuss the specific project or available projects as well as the overarching goals of your research

         • Discuss the specific role of the student in the potential project(s)

         • Share with one another your expectations for a successful experience

         • Send any resources for the student to prepare (i.e., contacts for additional mentors, materials to learn more, relevant publications, etc.)

         • Agree on the frequency and best way to communicate with one another moving forward (emails via organizational email addresses are preferred)

4. Ensure a clear timeline and research project for active student participation 

To be successful in the Mentorship Program and the course assignments, students will need an active role in a research project

4. • Project: Determine the ongoing or independent research project available for the student and their program timeline

   • Role/Outcomes: Provide clarity to the student about their role in the project and the goals and specific outcomes of the project

   • Resources: Share relevant primary literature/publications/etc. to develop students’ knowledge and skills to understand and later communicate the project

   • Feedback: As part of NCSSM course assignments, students will communicate their research via a written proposal and via oral presentations (mentors are encouraged to provide feedback) 

5.  Ensure student is ready to come on site and begin working on project by the start date 

   • This often includes requesting students’ completion of compliance forms, safety or other required training, obtaining an ID card, library access, etc.

   • For assistance, please contact your departments/institutional offices as well as any available Youth Protection representatives as needed  

   • NCSSM is not permitted by institutions to lead the student compliance process which varies in each institution/department/lab/etc. and by research project.

Click here for What are the deliverables for the Mentee?

NCSSM Mentorship Instructors grade the students’ performance on course assignments that are designed to develop students’ communication skills and demonstrate the students’ understanding of their project as well as the broader impact and applications of the work.  Mentors are NOT responsible for assessing any assignments, but are always encouraged to provide feedback and guidance to ensure the work reflects well on you and your workplace. 

During the course, students are required to complete several assignments designed to help facilitate and, to an extent, standardize their experience at their research site. The majority of assignments do not require assistance or feedback from the mentor or research team, however, some may and are listed below for the mentor’s awareness. These assignments require students to truly gain an understanding of the project they are working on and to ask questions when needed.

All mentor meetings via video conference with NCSSM students must be accessible for observation by NCSSM staff by drop in which requires everyone’s collaboration.

Mentors  are required to:

• Send the student the meeting link and password and date/time at least 24 hours in advance (if possible)

• For the meeting, be sure to admit Mentorship and Research staff that join the meeting (e.g. from the waiting room)

Students are required to:

• Log the meeting using the Mentor Meeting Log at least 24h in advance

Note: all of our staff have signed confidentiality agreements at NCSSM that any mentor information we come to know must remain confidential.  We are only joining the meeting to observe safety and will not be paying attention to content details in any way.  Note: all of our staff have signed confidentiality agreements and are only joining the meeting to observe safety.  Staff include: Dr. Sarah Shoemaker, Mrs. Mary Slawter, Dr. Letitia Hubbard, Mr. Bobby Warren, Esha Shah, Joey Talerico. 

• Duke University and Duke Hospitals (https://forms.hr.duke.edu/minors/)

  • Duke University Youth Protection Coordinator (Sarah Pharr)
    Phone: 919-684-5387
    youthprotection@duke.edu

• NC State University (https://go.ncsu.edu/protectionofminors)

  • Contact: Stacy Fair, M.Ed.
    Director of Youth Programs and Compliance, Department of Risk Assessment
    Email: slfair@ncsu.edu
    Phone: 919-515-4256

• UNC-Chapel Hill (https://protectionofminors.unc.edu/)

  • Contact: Starr Barbaro, MPA
    Protection of Minors Coordinator at UNC, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
    Address: 100 Europa Drive, Suite 270, Campus Box 5010, Chapel Hill, NC 26517
    Phone: (919) 843-8995