There are 26 partnerships in the current mentoring group, about average in the four-year history of the program. Alexander said most of the applicants tend to be proteges seeking mentors, but hopes that the overwhelmingly positive experience reported by past mentors will encourage others to volunteer to be part of a learning partnership. The format is rather open, but the partnerships work best when both the mentor and protege see the partnership as mutually beneficial. The partners commit to meet once a month for an hour to discuss and work towards their goals. Most successful partners meet more often.
Communication is the key.
How they make that happen is flexible. Alexander received his undergraduate degree in naval architecture and marine engineering and his master's degree in non-linear hydrodynamics from the University of Michigan. He was a practicing engineer in the areas of ship hull form design, anti-submarine warfare, cable dynamics and marine safety before he volunteered to mentor a high school senior in 1990. After moving to Santa Fe, Alexander became an expert in science education and a volunteer with at risk students. At STB-EPO, he facilitated more than 160 learning partnerships with 60 mentors in almost every technical division at the Laboratory.