Career Advancement Series 2025–2026
A peer mentoring program for early and mid-career faculty, presented by the Office of Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development.
Program Objectives
The Career Advancement Series (CAS) is a peer mentoring program designed to support early and mid-career faculty in navigating academic promotion, professional growth, and leadership development. Drawing on the principles of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) — autonomy, competence, and relatedness — the program equips faculty to:
- Reflect on personal motivations and career goals
- Develop new skills and
- Explore strengths and areas for growth
- Cultivate meaningful professional relationships
- Create a values-driven plan for academic advancement
Session Schedule and Topics
All sessions will be held from 4-6 p.m.
Session 1 (In-Person) - Aug. 28, 2025
Welcome, Connection, and Orientation: Meet your cohort and program leaders. Build community and reflect on what motivates your academic path.
Session 2 (Virtual) - Sept. 18, 2025
Fostering Autonomy in Career Development: Explore how to align your goals and academic identity with internal motivation and institutional expectations.
Session 3 (Virtual) - Oct. 30, 2025
Building Relatedness through Collaborative Networks: Strengthen mentoring and collaboration across departments. Identify strategies to build supportive and productive relationships.
Session 4 (Virtual) - Jan. 15, 2026
Enhancing Competence through Skill Building: Assess your strengths and growth areas in research, teaching, and service. Strategize how to meet promotion benchmarks with confidence.
Session 5 (Virtual) - Feb. 19, 2026
Integrating Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness: Develop a personalized promotion strategy using SDT principles. Share and receive feedback on your advancement plan.
Session 6 (In-Person) - April 9, 2026
Wrap-Up and Social Gathering: Reconnect in person to reflect on your journey, celebrate growth, and look ahead.
Program Faculty
- Dr. LeChauncy Woodard, Associate Dean of Community Engagement
- Dr. Susan Raine, Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development
- Dr. Biykem Bozkurt, Senior Dean of Faculty
- Dr. Ellen Friedman, Senior Associate Dean of Professionalism
- Dr. Stacey Rose, Associate Director, Center for Professionalism
- Dr. Sarah-Ann Keyes, Assistant Dean, School of Health Professions
Who Should Apply
This program is ideal for assistant and associate professors at Baylor College of Medicine who are seeking support with promotion planning, mentoring, skill development and building a fulfilling academic career.
Note:
- Space is limited to 30 faculty.
- Please do not apply if you are unable to attend all sessions.
