Cross-cultural Mentoring Relationships

I recently read an article on mentoring across cultures.
Published in the July-August issue of Academe, Volume 93,
Number 4, a publication of the American Association of
University Professors, http://www.aaup.org/aaup,
Betty Neal Crutcher wrote on a topic which
could promote stimulating discussion in today's
higher education classrooms.

Here is a quote from her remarks:

"Faculty motivated to mentor people whose
backgrounds or identities differ from their own must be
adept at navigating cultural boundaries: personal, gender,
racial, ethnic, and geographic. Because of the complexity of
cross-cultural mentoring, mentors also need certain attributes
or abilities, including selflessness, active listening
skills, honesty, a nonjudgmental attitude, persistence,
patience, and an appreciation for diversity. In the face of
numerous challenges-dealing with difficult personalities,
maintaining boundaries, and surmounting gender and racial
tensions, for example-the mentors in my study generated many
strategies for what I call "HOPE" (helping others prepare
for education)."

The perceptions and conclusions of her mentoring
study are interesting reading. I concur with her "HOPE"
strategies, as all of us in higher education are
"Helping Others Prepare for Education" and the ongoing pursuit
of knowledge.

msteach