Mentoring Opportunities
AEFP will facilitate two types of mentoring opportunities in 2026: Informational Interview Directory and the Early Career Mentorship Sessions. Details about each opportunity—including eligibility, commitments, and instructions on how to participate—are below. Please note that some AEFP Community Groups organize their own mentoring programs, which are separate from the opportunities listed here. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@aefpweb.org.
Informational Interview Directory
Purpose and Aims
As AEFP continues to grow and adapt to the changing landscape of education research, the career trajectories of our members have also broadened and diversified accordingly. To support our members in connecting with one another outside of our annual conference, growing professionally, and exploring new career opportunities, we are creating an online directory of AEFP members who are willing to provide informational interviews for other AEFP members on a range of research and career topics.
Timeline
Recruitment for directory contact information will take place in January and February 2026. The directory will be published in February and will remain available through the end of the 2026 calendar year.
Directory Volunteer Commitment
Responses you provide for this directory will be made available to other members through the end of the 2026 calendar year. You may also revoke your information at any time by emailing info@aefpweb.org. Volunteering for this directory does not obligate you to engage in any specific number of informational interviews, or with any specific persons; please use your own discretion to determine your availability for interviews for anyone who reaches out.
Directory Volunteer Eligibility
Any AEFP member can volunteer to be part of this informational interview directory, which will only be accessible to other members through their AEFP member account. The form will ask you which specific topics you'd be comfortable providing guidance on for other members.
Directory Volunteer Instructions
Individuals who are interested in making their contact information available to other AEFP members for this informational interview directory should complete the form below by Monday, February 9th. Note: This is the same form as the early career MENTOR form linked below. The directory will be published to members in February.
Directory User Commitment
The directory will be available through the end of the 2026 calendar year and may be accessed at any time. Members using the directory should keep in mind that volunteers determine their own availability and are not obligated to accommodate all requests for informational interviews.
Directory User Eligibility
Any AEFP member with a regular or student membership will be able to access the Informational Interview Directory through their AEFP member account.
Directory User Instructions
The directory will be published in February. Access instructions, along with tips for using the directory effectively, will be shared via AEFP Connects newsletters.
Early Career Mentorship Sessions
Purpose and Aims
The AEFP Early Career Mentorship Sessions are designed to support early-career professionals working in education finance and policy. The goal is to strengthen and expand participants’ professional networks while providing meaningful opportunities for feedback and guidance. Sessions are especially intended for scholars who would benefit substantially from increased access to senior researchers and mentors in the field.
Timeline
Recruitment for mentors and mentees will take take place in January and February 2026. The mentorship sessions will be scheduled for February and March.
Commitment
Participation will involve attending one virtual networking session before the March 2026 conference that will allow mentees to receive guidance from and connect with mentors. Sessions will feature small breakout rooms organized by research topics or areas of interest focused on professional advice and research development.
Mentor Eligibility
Mentors should be someone who is tenured or has at least 6 years of experience in a non-academic research position. In addition, mentors should have had managerial/supervisory experience (e.g., leading a research team, substantive home-institution mentorship of doctoral students).
Mentor Instructions
Experienced and senior career individuals who are interested in attending a networking session as mentors should complete the form below by Monday, February 9th. Note: This is the same form as the informational interview directory form linked above. More information and coordination will be provided in early February.
Mentee Eligibility
Mentees should be 1-3 years out of a Ph.D. program with an interest in tenure-track or research-based jobs (i.e., jobs in which the production and communication of original research is a substantial component of duties).
Mentee Instructions
Early career individuals who are interested in attending a networking session as mentees should complete the form below Monday, February 9th to facilitate logistics and matching with available mentors. More information and coordination will be provided in early February.