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 Mentoring Ecosystems for Learning and Development
Building Skills, Shaping Policies, Driving Global Impact
Mentoring Ecosystems for Learning and Development (MELD) is a strategic partnership formed by the International Mentoring Association (IMA), the University of New Mexico Mentoring Institute, and the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER).
Founded in 2025 by Nora Dominguez (Director, UNM Mentoring Institute), Lisa Fain (President, International Mentoring Association, 2024–2026), Dr. Melissa McDaniels (Associate Director, CIMER), and Dr. Christine Pfund (Director, CIMER), MELD unites three internationally respected institutions committed to advancing high-quality, research-informed mentoring.
MELD integrates IMA’s global leadership in mentoring best practices, community-building, and accreditation, CIMER’s evidence-based mentor and mentee training, grounded in rigorous research, and UNM Mentoring Institute’s work in building mentoring cultures across higher education and communities.
Together, these strengths create a connected mentoring ecosystem designed to expand access to mentoring, elevate standards of excellence, and support practitioners, researchers, and programs around the world.
In 2026, MELD will launch a dynamic three-phase series of Learning Forums, bringing together leading mentoring scholars and practitioners from around the globe. Across Phase 1: Skill Development, Phase 2: Organizational Policies, and Phase 3: Practical Applications, you’ll gain foundational skills, explore structures that sustain mentoring, and apply real-world strategies that elevate impact.
With the combined networks of IMA, the UNM Mentoring Institute, and CIMER, these forums will feature experts, cutting-edge insights, and practical tools you can use in your mentoring programs and research.
Register today to be among the first to engage with the world’s foremost voices in mentoring.
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Building Inclusive Mentoring Practices:
Practical Tools to Reduce Bias and Strengthen Belonging
Wednesday March 11, 2026 8am Pacific / 11am Eastern
Special Guests: Stacy Blake-Beard, Angela Byars-Winston, Brad Johnson
Inclusive mentoring strengthens learning and belonging. In this third Skill Development forum, participants explore how diversity in experiences, identities, and needs shapes mentoring relationships. Participants will recognize varied mentoring needs, design inclusive approaches, and assess how bias—both conscious and unconscious—can influence mentoring outcomes and effectiveness.
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Coaching Skills for Mentors:
Powerful Questions and Goal-Setting Strategies for Better Mentoring
Wednesday April 8, 2026 8am Pacific / 11am Eastern
Special Guests: Karen Benoy Preston and David Clutterbuck
Coaching skills elevate mentoring conversations. In this fourth and final Skill Development forum, participants explore how mentoring and coaching intersect—and where they differ. Participants differentiate mentoring from coaching, practice effective goal-setting techniques, and apply powerful coaching questions to real-world mentoring scenarios to support growth, clarity, and accountability.
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Creating Organizational Support for Mentoring:
Policies and Structures that Make Mentoring Programs Thrive
Wednesday May 20, 2026 8am Pacific / 11am Eastern
Strong mentoring programs are built on supportive policies. In this first Organizational Policies forum, participants examine how organizational structures, policies, and practices shape mentoring success. Participants identify key policy elements that strengthen mentoring programs, analyze common organizational barriers, and recommend strategies for aligning policies with mentoring goals to support sustainability and impact.
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Measuring the Impact of Mentorship Ecosystems:
Defining Metrics and Using Data to Improve Mentoring Outcomes
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8am Pacific / 11am Eastern
What gets measured shapes what endures. In this second Organizational Policies forum, participants explore how to evaluate mentoring ecosystems beyond individual relationships. Participants define meaningful metrics for success, interpret data across mentoring programs and networks, and propose evidence-informed improvements to strengthen impact, accountability, and continuous learning.
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Integrating Mentoring with Leadership Development
Connecting Mentoring to Leadership Growth and Succession Planning
Wednesday July 8, 2026 8am Pacific / 11am Eastern
Mentoring becomes transformational when aligned with leadership strategy. In this third Organizational Policies forum, participants explore how mentoring can intentionally support leadership pipelines and succession planning. Participants explain the link between mentoring and leadership development, design integrated development frameworks, and evaluate the organizational benefits of aligning mentoring with broader leadership goals.
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Sustaining Mentoring Programs
Keeping Mentoring Relevant, Resilient, and Built to Last
Wednesday August 12, 2026 8am Pacific / 11am Eastern
Sustainability turns mentoring into a long-term organizational asset. In this fourth and final Organizational Policies forum, participants examine what it takes to maintain mentoring momentum over time. Participants identify common sustainability challenges, develop strategies to support participant retention, and formulate long-term engagement plans that keep mentoring programs relevant, resilient, and impactful.
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Case Studies in Mentoring Ecosystems
Lessons from Real Programs You Can Apply Immediately
Wednesday September 9, 2026 8am Pacific / 11am Eastern
Learning comes alive through real-world practice. In this first Practical Applications forum, participants examine real mentoring ecosystems across sectors to see how theory translates into action. Participants analyze real-world mentoring models, compare different ecosystem approaches, and apply key lessons to their own organizational or program context.
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Building Your Network for Career Advancement
Strategic Networking to Expand Opportunity and Influence
Wednesday October 14, 2026 8am Pacific / 11am Eastern
Intentional networks accelerate career growth. In this second Practical Applications forum, participants explore how to strategically build and activate personal and professional networks. Participants map their existing networks, practice effective networking strategies, and create a practical action plan to support ongoing career development and advancement.
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Mentoring Across Boundaries
Emerging Ideas Shaping the Next Era of Mentoring
Wednesday November 11, 2026 8am Pacific / 11am Eastern
Effective mentoring extends beyond traditional boundaries. In this third Practical Applications forum, participants explore mentoring across functions, roles, and locations. Participants identify cross-functional mentoring opportunities, develop strategies for effective virtual mentoring, and evaluate what success looks like in boundary-spanning mentoring relationships.
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Future Trends in Mentoring Ecosystems
Emerging Ideas Shaping the Next Era of Mentoring
Wednesday December 9, 2026 8am Pacific / 11am Eastern
Preparing for the future keeps mentoring relevant and resilient. In this fourth and final Practical Applications forum, participants explore emerging trends shaping mentoring ecosystems. Participants examine the evolving role of technology, anticipate future directions in mentoring, and design adaptive strategies to ensure mentoring ecosystems remain responsive, innovative, and impactful.
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