The Instructor Development Committee

Purpose and Scope

The Committee was established in 2015 (originally the Mentoring Subcommittee) to develop and maintain a mentorship program to support instructors as they progress through training, teaching, curriculum development, and other community-related activities. We help promote community-building and networking by providing (virtual) spaces where instructors from all over the world can share teaching success stories and discuss strategies for overcoming challenges. In August 2018, the group was renamed to the Instructor Development Committee to reflect the wider focus of its activity and to avoid confusion with the Mentoring Groups Program.

What We Do

Instructor Discussion Sessions

Each week, volunteers host two instructor discussion sessions. The sessions provide a forum where experienced and novice instructors can discuss past and/or upcoming workshops. Instructors who have just taught, are about to teach, or have just completed instructor training will receive an email invitation to these meetings, but these sessions are open to anyone.

To find an upcoming session, visit this etherpad.

Mentoring Groups

Mentoring groups support instructors by matching them with a personal mentor. Mentors will guide small groups (~4-5) of mentees, guiding them through specific goals including preparing to teach a workshop, maintaining lessons, building local communities, and organizing workshops.

See this page for a full outline of the program.

Committee Meetings

The Instructor Development Committee meets on the third Monday of every month to evaluate current activities, and propose new activities. Minutes of past meetings are available here. All community members are welcome to attend these meetings. Similarly, we welcome anyone who is interested in joining up and helping out!

To attend our next meeting, visit this etherpad.

Join Us!

Any Carpentries community member is welcome to participate in Instructor Development Committee activities and/or join the committee! Some options for getting involved are provided below.

• discuss workshop experiences with other instructors OR ask questions of other instructors as you prepare to teach
  • Attend an instructor discussion session by signing up on this etherpad.
  • Sign up to host a Themed Discussion Session or #CarpentriesConversation by completing this form.
  • Get more information about Community Discussions by contacting The Carpentries Community Development Team.
• help lead discussion sessions among instructors
  • Join the discussion host mailing list and sign up to host, co-host, or observe a discussion on this etherpad
• support current mentoring/development activities or initiate new ones. Contact The Carpentries Community Development Team to get started.
• join the Instructor Development Committee meetings
  • Sign up for the Instructor Development Committee mailing list and look out for the next meeting (scheduled on this etherpad.

Staff Liaisons

• Sher! Hurt, @SherAaronHurt)

Instructor Development Committee Leadership Team (2022-2023)

• Elnaz AmanzadehJajin, Chair
• Alicia Cappello, Secretary
• Jonathan Stoneman, Mentoring Co-Chair
• Lynne Williams, Mentoring Co-Chair
• Emmanuelle Rodrigues Nunes, Special Projects Chair
• Yared Abera, Member at Large
• Rohit Goswami, Member at Large
• Dianna Morganti, Member at Large
• Annajiat Alim Rasel, Member at Large
• Katherine Simeon, Member at Large
• Abisola Regina Sholeye, Member at Large

Outgoing Instructor Development Committee Leadership Team (2020-2021)

• Annajiat Alim Rasel, Co-Chair
• Maria Prokofieva, Co-Chair
• Yared Abera, Communications Chair
• Samar Elsheikh, Mentoring Co-Chair
• Katherine Simeon, Mentoring Co-Chair
• Carol Fadeke, Discussion Chair
• Rohit Goswami, Special Projects Chair
• Secretary - Rotating Position

Past Instructor Development Committee Members

• Arindam Basu
• Erin Becker
• Daniel Chen (@chendaniely, @chendaniely)
• Marco Chiapello
• Martin Dreyer
• Jonah Duckles
• Jamie Hadwin
• Chris Hamm
• Rayna Harris (@raynamharris, @raynamharris)
• Kate Hertweck (@k8hertweck, k8hert)
• Toby Hodges (Co-chair, @tobyhodges, @tbyhdgs)
• Kari L. Jordan (@kariljordan, @DrKariLJordan)
• Christina Koch (@ChristinaLK, @_christinaLK)
• Mateusz Kuzak (@mkuzak, @matkuzak)
• Karin Lagesen (@karinlag, @karinlag)
• Mark Laufersweiler
• Tobin Magle
• Paula Andrea Martinez (@orchid00)
• Susan McClatchy (@smcclatchy, @SueMcclatchy)
• Sheldon McKay (@mckays630)
• Kemi Megbowon
• Bill Mills (@BillMills, @billdoesphysics)
• Mariela Perignon (@mperignon)
• Phil Rosenfield (@philrosenfield, @philrosenfield)
• Maneesha Sane
• Michael Sarahan (@msarahan)
• Marian Schmidt (@marschmi, @micro_marian)
• Raniere Silva
• Sarah Stevens
• Juan Steyn
• Tracy Teal (@tracykteal, @tracykteal)
• Tiffany Timbers (@ttimbers, @TiffanyTimbers)
• Belinda Weaver (@weaverbel, @cloudaus)
• Carol Willing (@willingc, @WillingCarol)

* membership list based on attendance of ≥2 subcommittee meetings since October 2016.