The APS National Mentoring Community (NMC) facilitates and supports mentoring relationships between Black/African, Latinx, and Indigenous undergraduate physics students and physics mentors. Membership in the NMC is free for both Mentors and Mentees.
Vision
The APS NMC program envisions a future in physics and related fields in which no one is marginalized* or minoritized** on the basis of race or ethnicity. To help achieve this vision of justice and fairness, the program prioritizes mentoring, professional development opportunities, and access to resources for students from Black/African, Latinx, and Indigenous students seeking degrees in physics.
Mission Statement
The mission of the APS NMC is to address the minoritization and marginalization of people in physics by providing personal and professional development to mentors and mentees, matching mentors and mentees, and providing resources to mentees.
*marginalized - a person or group whose experiences are ignored or pushed to the periphery of a larger group or society.
**minoritized - (of a group) to be of a smaller number than another (or other groups) as a result of policies or practices of people in the majority group. For example, being a racial minority in a region due to immigration policies that do not allow (or limit) people of a certain racial group immigrating into the region.
Please note: Check that your APS Affiliation matches your current Institution before joining the National Mentoring Community. This is to ensure mentors and mentees are paired appropriately according to location.
Join the conversation in the National Mentoring Community APS Engage Community! Here is where you can meet other NMC mentors and mentees, have your questions answered by NMC mentors (or answer Mentee questions) and receive updates from NMC Staff. Once you sign up to join the NMC, you will automatically be added to our APS Engage Community. For questions, please contact nmc@aps.org
NMC Lunch Meetup at SESAPS
Thursday, November 4, 2022
12:00 p.m. CT
The NMC is hosting a lunch meetup at SESAPS and we hope to see all NMC mentors and mentees who are located within APS's southeastern region there.
The NMC is providing coupon codes to waive registration fees for current NMC mentees interested in attending SESAPS. To access this coupon code, email nmc@aps.org. The NMC is also providing travel support for NMC Mentees who are attending SESAPS.
If you are not already a member - join the Southeastern Section of APS. Membership is free!
Register for the Southeastern Section (SESAPS) Annual Meeting (NMC Mentees - don't forget to email nmc@aps.org for your registration coupon code!)
Email NMC Staff (nmc@aps.org) to let us know that you are attending SESAPS and are planning to attend the NMC lunch.
Leading up to SESAPS, check your email for further details about the NMC Lunch Meetup!
This is the first of many in-person regional meetups that the NMC is hosting for mentors and mentees, so be on the lookout to see when we'll be coming to your region!
NMC Mentor Meetup: Recruiting Mentees
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. ET
Attend this virtual event via Zoom to network with other mentors, share mentoring strategies, and receive tips on how to recruit mentees.
Registration
NMC Mentee Meetup: Bridge Information Session
Thursday, November 17, 2022
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. ET
Attend this virtual event via Gather to network with your peers, connect with mentors, and learn more about the Bridge Program and why you should apply. We’ll be offering DoorDash gift cards so you can enjoy a meal during the event.
More Information
The Bringing Emergency Aid to Mentees (BEAM) Fund provides small grants to NMC Mentees who are facing sudden financial emergencies so that they can continue their physics studies and earn their degrees.
More about BEAM Fund
The TEAM-UP Together Scholarship Program (TUTSP) will support African American students in the pursuit and attainment of their bachelor’s degrees in physics and astronomy.
More about TEAM-UP Together
A list of resources has been gathered to help DACA students navigate the educational opportunities available to them.
DACA Resources
NMC Mentor Rohana Wijewardhana (L) and NMC Mentee Madelyn Leembruggen (R).
My association with the APS NMC played a pivotal role in changing my attitude about supervising undergraduate research. My mentee’s first poster win, based on her summer research, was at the APS National Mentoring community meeting in Houston in 2016. Since then she has co-authored three papers with our research group, currently working on a fourth one and won a number of poster contests at various locations. She owes part of her success to her participation in the APS NMC.
– Rohana Wijewardhana, University of Cincinnati, NMC Mentor