Launched in fall 2022, BU D&I STARS (Supporting Thriving, Achievement, Retention, & Success) is a learning community of up to 20 early career BU faculty on the Charles River Campus who meet regularly throughout the academic year to engage in professional development, mentoring, wellness, and community-building opportunities. BU D&I STARS supports faculty from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the academy who are within their first-ever two years of a faculty appointment.
You can learn more about the program by expanding each of the sections below.
About BU D&I STARS
Professional Development
Each month over the course of one academic year, the BU D&I STARS participants convene in person to engage in a professional development activity facilitated by an expert in a specific topic relevant to early career scholars from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. The professional development curriculum is designed to address a variety of topics to learn and build upon various skillsets, encourage work-life balance and self-care, develop strategies to navigate academia and its politics, become an effective leader and mentor in one’s department, and more.
Mentoring
Early career faculty in the program are paired with faculty mentors, senior faculty at BU. The pairings are determined based on the stated needs of participants and strengths of the mentors. The mentors are expected to meet regularly with their mentees and will participate in a structured group mentoring process throughout the year. Mentors will attend a training at the beginning of the year and will receive guidance on topics to explore in their mentoring, with regular check-ins from the BU D&I staff.
Community
BU D&I STARS participants will have a reserved monthly time and space to participate in community-building activities of their choice. Participants may use this time to participate in a writing accountability group, gather to discuss particular issues or challenges they are facing, or simply meet to socialize and take a break from campus life.
How to get involved
How do you become a BU D&I STARS participant?
BU D&I STARS participants are faculty from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups who are nominated each year by academic deans. They must be within their first-ever two years of a faculty appointment (at BU and at other institutions). They may hold any kind of faculty appointment, including lecturers, clinical faculty, or tenure-track.
How do you become a BU D&I STARS mentor?
BU D&I STARS mentors are also nominated by academic deans, however, if you are interested in becoming a BU D&I STARS mentor for our next year of BU D&I STARS participants, please contact Megan Segoshi at msegoshi@bu.edu. Mentors must be post-promotion or post-tenure and must have been a faculty member at BU for at least four years.
