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Article
From Dissertation Defense to Dissemination: Jump Start Your Academic Career With a Scholar Mentor Group
Nursing Forum (2015)
  • Melinda Hermanns, University of Texas at Tyler
Abstract
Problem
The dissertation provides an excellent source of scholarly productivity for new doctoral faculty, yet is often neglected because of the demands inherent in the faculty role.
Methods
The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of a scholar mentor group composed of three graduates of a PhD nursing program and their shared dissertation chair, who acted as a senior scholar mentor to the group.
Findings
By working together, we have been able to enhance our scholarly productivity by disseminating our dissertations through presentations and publications. The paper will present the evolving process of this working group, summarize outcomes, analyze the challenges, and provide suggestions for future doctoral students and faculty who are working with them.
Conclusions
Our experience and scholar mentor model captures the best of both worlds—the benefits of interaction with academic peers and the benefits of having a senior scholar mentor. This was accomplished while all members were at different schools in different cities and states. Although other literatures that document successful collaborations using a peer‐mentorship model are available, we were unable to locate any that documents a post‐doctoral group with a senior scholar mentor who continued working together after graduation.
Keywords
  • education,
  • innovation,
  • leadership,
  • professional issue
Disciplines
Publication Date
January, 2015
DOI
10.1111/nuf.12124
Publisher Statement
Published in Nursing Forum.
Citation Information
Lehna, C., Hermanns, M. L., Monsivais, D., & Engebretson, J. (2015). From Dissertation Defense to Dissemination. Jump Start Your Academic Career with a Scholar Mentor Group. Nursing Forum, doi: 10.1111/nuf.12124.