Mentoring: Perspectives for a Diverse FCS Profession

Abstract

The value of mentorship for family and consumer sciences (FCS) professionals is emphasized by inclusion in five leadership development programs offered by FCS professional organizations. The American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Leadership Academy, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Leadership Institute, Council of Administrators of Family and Consumer Sciences (CAFCS) Emerging Leaders Workshop, Board on Health & Human Sciences (BHHS) Fellows Program, and the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) Extension Leadership Conference each include mentoring content and opportunities. Each organization, whether seeking to develop emerging, current, or future leaders, includes mentoring as a tool for developing FCS leaders. Components of each, including the models applied and the curriculum offered, include elements of mentoring (see Table 1). The purpose of this analysis is to examine perspectives on mentoring in FCS education and the profession, especially for women of color (WOC), as illuminated by the extant literature and the lived experiences of FCS students.