WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE MENTORING RELATIONSHIP? In Greek mythology, Mentor was the teacher and guide of Telemachus, the son of Odysseus. "Mentor" actually was Athena, the goddess of wisdom, in disguise. The archetype of a mentor, then, is one of benevolent, guiding wisdom. A mentor, in relation to a mentee, is a person of higher ranking within an organization or profession, with greater experience or knowledge and a commitment to supporting the development of a mentee's career. A mentor serves as a role model who offers acceptance, confirmation, protection, and even friendship to the mentee. A mentor listens, observes, asks, counsels, coaches, challenges, and sponsors the mentee. Among the advantages of a mentor relationship for the mentee are the following: Greater career and job satisfaction Greater sense of efficacy in one's professional skills More predictable career advancement The benefits for mentors include the following: Satisfaction and fulfillment from seeing a protg advance Renewal of interest in and commitment to one's own career Recognition of one's own professional skills by the mentee Increased satisfaction in one's own job or position Recognition from peers and administrators for service. Universities benefits experienced by the mentee and mentor: Reduced faculty turnover Increased sensitivity to issues of gender, culture, and diversity More systematic socialization to university culture Greater loyalty to the university mission. Effective mentors promote an interdependent relationship with their mentees that involves a developmental perspective. That is, effective mentors assume a position of respect and patience, guide rather than tell, model