Apply now for an SSP Mentorship!
Are you looking to grow your career? Our Career Development Committee is seeking mentors and mentees for the next round of our Mentorship Program. We encourage you to apply!
Mentorship is valuable for professionals at all career levels; you’re never too experienced to learn or too new to contribute. It provides opportunities for mentors and mentees to develop new relationships, share experiences, and learn from others outside their organizations.
“I’ve mentored several people over the years, and it’s intensely rewarding. The benefits I found as a mentor were learning about other parts of our industry that I didn’t have direct experience in (and the issues that go with them), making new connections in the community, and—most importantly— the huge satisfaction of helping someone further their career.”
– Program Alumni
Since 2017, this exciting program has connected SSP members for professional development, information exchange, networking, personal growth, and career advancement. It provides mentors and mentees with a dedicated space to build industry relationships, free from workplace politics, enabling mentors to share their hard-earned wisdom and mentees to gain valuable insights while developing essential communication and leadership skills.
The next cohort of our mentorship program will run from March through September 2026. Applications for mentees and mentors are accepted through February 17, 2026. Applicants will be notified in late February.
“I am so glad that I stuck my neck out and volunteered. This is a colleague-to-colleague connection that I haven’t experienced in any other professional setting. If my partner is enjoying this half as much as I am, then it will be a win-win for this pair!”
– Program Alumni
SSP is dedicated to building a community that values and benefits from the talents of scholarly publishers from diverse backgrounds. We believe our community should prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and we actively encourage individuals from traditionally marginalized groups to apply as mentors or mentees.
The SSP Mentorship program is open only to SSP members. Not a member yet? Join SSP online today! The Career Development Committee matches selected participants with mentors or mentees based on complementary goals and skill sets. They are expected to meet at least once monthly for six months.
Read on for more information about the program’s eligibility requirements and how to apply.
The application deadline is February 17, 2026, so don’t wait—apply today!
About the Program
Since 2017, SSP’s Mentorship Program has helped scholarly publishing professionals explore potential career paths by expanding their understanding of industry options and providing learning experiences outside of work. Mentors benefit by giving back to the field, feeling the satisfaction and impact of sharing their knowledge and expertise, growing their networks, and learning new things from their mentees. Mentees gain new perspectives on their work, expand their networks, find a sounding board for ideas and projects, and build their confidence.
How It Works
Mentors and mentees apply online to participate in a mentorship cohort. The Career Development Committee matches mentees and mentors. Professional development activities are unique to each mentoring relationship and are enhanced by group meetings with all participants in a particular cohort.
A mentor can have multiple mentees, but a mentee can only have one mentor per cohort. A member can be a mentor and a mentee simultaneously. First-time participants will be given preference for open spaces.
Program Eligibility
- All participants, mentors, and mentees must be current members of SSP.
- The program is open to all membership types, including post-secondary student members interested in publishing/library sciences.
- Mentors must have at least three years of experience in scholarly communication, while mentees are not required to have any prior experience.
- Interested members must apply to participate in the program. A limited number of places per mentorship cohort are available.
- We strongly encourage people from traditionally marginalized groups to apply as mentors or mentees.
- First-time mentee applicants will be given precedence over those who have previously participated in the program as mentees.
- Applications must be received by the deadline to be considered for a given mentorship cohort.
Mentors and mentees must agree to abide by the SSP Code of Conduct. They should meet at least once a month, but can meet more frequently. The suggested meeting length is 30-60 minutes. Meetings can be in person, by phone, or via other virtual platforms. In addition, the mentor and mentee must attend the orientation and the virtual discussion groups. The Mentorship Program Handbook guides mentors and mentees through the Program.
Supporting the SSP Mentorship Program
For organizations interested in supporting the SSP Mentorship Program, $1,000 sponsorship packages are available. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please download the SSP Media Kit or contact partnerships@sspnet.org.
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SSP’s Mentorship Program is funded through sustainable allocations from the Generations Fund, our community-funded endowment to support our Fellowship, Mentoring, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility programs. |
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