Discovering the Pathways of Engineering Mentorship: An Auto-Ethnographic Exploration

Mentorship acts as a catalyst for belonging and success in the field of engineering, particularly for people from underrepresented groups. This paper examines the mentorship experiences of a female undergraduate engineering student. Using an auto-ethnographic methodology and mixed-methods approach, mentorship experiences were thematically and statistically analyzed through the lens of gender, mentorship pathway, timing, and impact-identification. Key findings include the presence of mentorship experiences with primarily male faculty, staff, and students prior to beginning an engineering degree, highlighting the important role that men, in all positions, play as allies in the recruitment of girls in engineering. It was found that invitations to more impactful mentorship experiences often developed from an initial experience that the mentee first initiated. Further, the defining attributes of a mentor consisted of being a role model, being welcoming, offering encouragement, and providing guidance. Overall, the exercise of reflecting on mentorship was a powerful experience, highlighting the importance of self-reflection in student development.