Career mentorship of graduate students in public administration at the intersection of the relationship between students and faculty

ABSTRACT

Students pursue graduate degrees in public administration for many career-related reasons. Accordingly, graduate students have various career and professional development needs, some of which are fulfilled through career mentorship by faculty. This study examines career mentorship of graduate students in public administration from both the student and faculty mentor perspectives. Using qualitative data from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with public administration graduate students and faculty, we couple the different perspectives to develop an understanding of the core elements of career mentoring for graduate students. We also provide practical suggestions on how to ensure career mentorship is beneficial to graduate students in public administration programs.

KEYWORDS:

• Career mentorship
• faculty mentors
• graduate education
• graduate students
• public administration

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Research protocols were submitted to and reviewed and approved by the Old Dominion University Business Human Subjects Review Committee, project approval #1926243–1. An informed consent form was provided to and signed by all interview subjects via e-mail.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Norah Alshayhan

Norah Alshayhan is a doctoral candidate in the public administration and policy program at Old Dominion University. She is interested in studying topics related to leadership and career and professional development. Her dissertation examines leadership for emergency management and resilience.

Juita-Elena Yusuf

Juita-ElenaYusuf is a Professor in the School of Public Service, Strome College of Business at Old Dominion University. Her research focuses on policy issues at the intersection of multiple sectors - government, nonprofits, businesses, and society - in contentious and complex areas such as transportation, public finance, and climate change and sea level rise. Dr. Yusuf also leads the ODU Career Pathways program, a university-wide initiative to provide professional and career development to graduate students.

Marina Saitgalina

Marina Saitgalina is an assistant professor of public service in the Strome College of Business at Old Dominion University. She holds an MPA degree from the Academy of Public Administration in Russia, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Management from the University of North Texas. Her research encompasses such areas of nonprofit management as professional associations, community engagement, emergency management, and volunteerism.

Megan E. Corbett

Megan E. Corbett is an institutional effectiveness and accreditation analyst with the Old Dominion University Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment.