In an exciting collaborative effort, Dr. Jeremy Holloway collaborated with esteemed professionals Matthew J. Peterson, Ph.D., Alicia Sellon, Ph.D., Elizabeth Evans Peterson, MPH, and Eric E. Hall, Ph.D., to release a groundbreaking publication titled “Development of an Engaging and Inclusive Undergraduate Virtual Research Mentoring Model.”

The publication can be visited here.

Recognizing the challenges and transformative potential presented by the rapid transition to virtual education environments, Dr. Matthew Petersons, with Dr. Holloway and collaborators set out to develop an innovative Virtual Research Mentoring Model (VRMM). Their goal? To provide high-quality, inclusive research mentorship to undergraduate students through virtual platforms, ensuring equitable access and meaningful engagement for diverse student populations.

The team’s initiative was launched through a pilot workshop hosted by the CAA Academic Alliance, with participation from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Elon University, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The workshop brought together faculty and students in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment designed to address key questions around virtual mentorship:

  • How can we effectively build authentic mentor-mentee relationships in virtual settings?
  • What resources and curriculum are necessary to facilitate successful virtual research mentorship?

Participants employed innovative design-thinking methods, working intensively over two days to brainstorm solutions and create implementable prototypes. The team’s combined expertise in clinical research, social work, geriatrics, and exercise science was complemented by specialized training in motivational interviewing and relationship management.

The outcomes were profound:

  • Over 90% of participants reported increased confidence in utilizing virtual mentoring methods.
  • A VRMM Toolkit was created, offering structured guidelines and resources for future virtual mentorship initiatives.
  • Solutions such as personalized mentor-mentee surveys and virtual mentorship training workshops were developed, emphasizing interpersonal connection and inclusion.

Congratulations to Dr. Matthew Peterson for leading and spearheading this endeavor.

Dr. Holloway’s involvement highlights an ongoing commitment to innovative educational strategies that promote accessibility and inclusivity, particularly in empowering underrepresented students. The VRMM not only addresses practical mentoring challenges but also nourishes essential interpersonal relationships and enhances educational equity.

This collaborative effort demonstrates a significant leap toward democratizing undergraduate research experiences, ensuring all students can engage meaningfully and successfully in academic research endeavors, regardless of their physical or geographic limitations.

To explore the VRMM Toolkit and learn more about implementing these groundbreaking virtual mentoring practices, please visit the CAA Academic Alliance’s resources.

 

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Jeremy Holloway

Providing expert consulting in cross-cultural communication, burnout elimination, SDOH, intergenerational program solutions, and social isolation. Helping organizations achieve meaningful impact through tailored strategies and transformative insights.