Emily Butler

The realization that the pandemic was not going anywhere fast came in the middle of the 2020 planning cycle for the Diversity Mentoring Program (DMP). However, the planning committee did not skip a beat in pivoting to a virtual format, which ensured an impactful and engaging program for participants.

More than 100 people attended each program session, and 43 mentees were matched with mentors. Participants called in from every US time zone, and the program included mentees outside of North America. This is a testament to the impact of DMP within the discipline as we close out its 11th successful year.

The program kicked off Sunday afternoon with a mentor roundtable moderated by Adrian Coles. This casual format allowed new mentors to introduce themselves and experienced mentors to share advice and best practices. Most importantly, this roundtable highlighted the deep community roots developed by the committee—a community where all are welcome and there is a strong common desire to support and foster the next generation of historically under-represented minority statisticians and data scientists.

Monday’s DMP session convened at 8:00 a.m. EDT with a welcome from Dionne Price (ASA 2021 vice president-elect). Her reflections urged participants to invest as much energy into the virtual meeting as they would an in-person meeting. This was followed by a mentoring panel, moderated by Therri Usher, that brought together Emma Benn, Abie Ekangaki, Ofer Harel, and Brian Millen to discuss important components of a strong mentoring relationship for both the mentor and mentee. This candid and interactive conversation covered topics such as virtual mentoring, starting and ending mentoring relationships, and the importance of safe spaces and trust.

Tuesday’s DMP session focused on preparing participants to start or transition their career. It kicked off with a thorough presentation by Swift, Rebbecca Wilson, Chelsea Robalino, and Christian Geneus that provided tips on preparing for the job search and tricks for nailing the job interview. Vladimir Geneus followed this with a presentation on building your elevator speech—a critical skill for anyone on the job hunt. The morning concluded with a presentation by Chris Kinson about building an online presence (outside of social media).

The program concluded with the Wednesday morning session, which Rob Santos opened. He shared thoughts about helping those in positions of power understand the struggles and institutional barriers faced by historically under-represented minorities. This was followed by a conversation about meeting the current moment as an under-represented minority. Reneé Moore, Machell Town, Beimar Iriarte, and Emily Butler led the discussion on navigating the implications of national media coverage of racial injustice as a professional, the importance of self-care in these tumultuous times, and influencing a culture shift at one’s organization.

The challenges surrounding COVID-19 allowed for new opportunities this year and sparked ideas for scaling up the program in the future. Above all, participants were reminded of the importance of strong inclusive community and the agility and creativity that can be leveraged from such inclusiveness during trying times.

For more information about the JSM Diversity Mentoring Program, contact Butler.