Mentoring and Academic Development
Peer reviewed
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose The ambiguous nature of higher education demands workplace mentoring to successfully navigate different stages of one’s career. In contrast to traditional role-specific mentoring programs, this paper argues for the implementation of mentoring circles in which one mentor and a group of multi-staged mentees mentor each other. Design/methodology/approach This study introduces a conceptual framework to support multi-stage career mentoring circles. The paper presents a single case study using collaborative autoethnography to outline a multi-peer, transdisciplinary e-mentoring experience. We describe the concentric mentoring circles approach, examine the roles assumed by doctoral students and early career faculty, and, in light of community of practice theory, frame the experiences as a way for learning to be shared with other mentoring circles. Findings Findings suggest that specific mentoring actions and interactions may be influenced by the social nature of a multi-staged group. Overlapping roles and social connections broadened the knowledge gained from the concentric mentoring circles. Opportunities to work as both peer mentors and peer mentees enriched the mentoring experience. Research limitations/implications Multi-staged e-mentoring practices can support personal and professional growth. Further research using a larger participant sample is recommended. Practical implications Tenets that emerged from this study reveal the value of purpose, focus, organization and experience in a successful mentoring relationship. Originality/value This study presents an innovative revisioning of the mentoring process through concentric mentoring circles. It considers the possibility that the multi-staged group, which encompassed varying levels of practice, including expertise, experiences and interactions, may allow participants to assume multiple roles within a single mentoring program.
Direct answer
What can I do from this paper page?
Use this page to scan "Multi-staged mentoring circles in higher education: a collaborative autoethnography of an online community of practice" quickly: start with the summary and abstract, then check the authors, source, topics, and related papers. From here, open Scollr to follow Mentoring and Academic Development research, save the paper, or map adjacent work.
Research areas
Follow related topics
Citation
BibTeX
@article{Cockerham2026Multi,
title = {Multi-staged mentoring circles in higher education: a collaborative autoethnography of an online community of practice},
author = {Deborah Cockerham and Camille Dickson-Deane and Paula Marcelle and Shamila Janakiraman and Mounika Ragula and Sharon Stidham},
journal = {International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1108/ijmce-08-2025-0115},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1108/ijmce-08-2025-0115}
}FAQ
Using this paper in a discovery workflow
How do I find related work for this paper?
Use the related papers and topic links on this page as starting points. In Scollr, you can also open the paper and build a literature map around its references, citing papers, and related work.
How can I keep up with new Mentoring and Academic Development research papers?
Follow Mentoring and Academic Development research in Scollr. New papers from the topic flow into a personalized feed, and you can save useful studies to revisit later.
Can I cite this paper from this page?
This page includes a static BibTeX block for Multi-staged mentoring circles in higher education: a collaborative autoethnography of an online community of practice. Always verify the DOI, source, and publication details against the publisher record before submitting a manuscript.
Follow this research in Scollr
Follow the topics and authors behind this paper, save useful studies, and build a literature map when you are ready to go deeper.
Get the app