What is Mentoring Month?
National Mentoring Month is a nationwide initiative launched by MENTOR and the Harvard School of Public Health in 2002 to amplify, encourage, and strengthen mentorship. Here at The Ohio State University, the Ohio State Mentoring Initiative in The Graduate School has created multiple opportunities for graduate students and faculty to engage in this celebration of mentorship.
When is Mentoring Month?
National Mentoring Month 2026 takes place in the month of January. The Graduate School will have programs and learning opportunities happening from Jan. 12 – 30. Our celebrations include launching Mentoring Month Mini Grants, sharing our Mentoring Spotlight, and suggesting optional Mentoring Month Activities for mentors, mentees, and everyone to engage in at their own pace to celebrate mentoring.
Mentoring Month Opportunities
Mentoring Month Mini Grants
This year, the Graduate School Mentoring and Strategic Initiatives team is piloting a Mentoring Mini-Grant Program. Departments and programs, graduate faculty and staff, and graduate student organizations are invited to apply for a Mentoring Month Mini Grant of up to $500 to host an event or initiative to recognize mentors and mentees or celebrate mentorship. While National Mentoring Month technically ends in January, we will accept applications open from Jan. 12 –Feb. 6. Winners will be announced by Feb. 13.
Mentoring Spotlight
Dr. Susan Yoon (Mentor), Juan Benavides (Mentee), Yujeong Chang (Mentee), and Dr. Oznur Bayar (Mentee)
Learn from past winners of our university-wide mentoring award and their mentees about how they developed effective mentoring relationships! Dr. Susan Yoon, Assistant Professor of Social Work and her graduate and postdoctoral mentees, Juan Benavides (third year Ph.D. candidate), Yujeong Chang (fifth year Ph.D. candidate), and Dr. Oznur Bayar (Postdoctoral Scholar) share their reflections.
Mentoring Month Weekly Activities
These activities below are suggested ways you can celebrate Mentoring Month on your own! We have included links and resources to guide you. If you have any questions, email us at mentoring@osu.edu.
Jan. 12 – Jan. 16
Activities for mentors
- Request a mentoring workshop for your department or program
Activities for mentees
- Request a Mentoring Up workshop for your club or student organization
Activities for everyone
- Explore the Ohio State Mentoring Initiative Website: The Ohio State Mentoring Initiative recently launched a website in Oct. 2025, full of resources such as mentoring toolkits, mentoring plans, and opportunities to sign up to host workshops. Take some time to look around and engage with the resources we have to offer.
Jan. 19 – Jan. 23
Activities for mentors
- Develop a Mentoring Plan or update your existing plan: Use the Toolkit for Mentors on The Ohio State Mentoring Initiative Website
Activities for mentees
- Create an Individualized Development Plan: Use the resources on the Toolkit for Mentees page
Activities for everyone
- Listen to a Mentoring Podcast: The Role of Mentorship on Student Success, Belonging from Inside Higher Ed
Jan. 26 – Jan. 30
Activities for mentors
- Write a thank-you note to your mentee: Take some time to give your mentee a kind thank you note. It could be handwritten or sent via email!
Activities for mentees
- Write a thank-you note to your mentor: Take some time to give your mentor a kind thank-you note. It could be handwritten or sent over email! If you are having difficulty knowing where to start, here is a template that you can use to start your thank-you note
Activities for everyone
- Read our Mentor Spotlight to learn more about one of our faculty mentor award winners and their mentees. Try applying some of the advice they have to offer!
Grad Mentor - Toolkit for Mentees
Are you a graduate student or postdoc looking for mentoring resources? The Graduate School has created a set of resources specifically for you.
Grad Mentor - Toolkit for Mentors
Are you a mentor? The Graduate School has provided tips and resources specifically for mentoring graduate student.
Grad Mentor - Other Mentor Resources
Need additional resources such as resources across campus? The Graduate School has brought together several resources to help support both mentors and mentees.