2025-2026 PDSM | Abby K.

As the Professional Development Student Manager for Mentoring, you work closely with Associate Director Erin Herrmann, the Professional Development Student Manager (PDSM): Communications , and the Professional Development Student Manager (PDSM): Continuing Education to collaboratively coordinate all aspects of staff professional development across key programs and initiatives at the Writing Center, including tutor onboarding and ongoing education, The Mentoring Program, and events—from all-staff gatherings to staff socials.

In your role as PDSM for Mentoring, your primary responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of The Mentoring Program, including mentor-mentee pairings, mentoring check-in agendas, mentor selection and training, and scheduling for mentoring.

In addition to the role-specific work described above, you collaborate with your fellow PDSMs on planning and hosting events, support your fellow PDSMs in their responsibilities as able, serve as a Mentor, collaborate with other student managers to facilitate Tutor Talk, attend weekly team meetings, and may work as a Student Manager on Call (SMOC) during regular Writing Center open hours each quarter.

✨ Principal Duties & Responsibilities

As a Student Manager, duties and responsibilities ebb and flow throughout each quarter and over the course of an academic year. We are committed to making sure your duties and responsibilities are realistic and manageable.

Mentoring-Specific Role: Manage all aspects of The Mentoring Program

• Manage and implement a mentor application and selection process
• Coordinate mentor-mentee pairs for the academic year, including initial pairings and any adjustments needed due to staffing changes
• Review and update mentoring-related materials including but not limited to mentoring check-in agendas
• Revise or develop materials for Autumn Quarter Mentor Training and any other mentoring trainings or meetings
• Oversee scheduling—initial placeholders in WCOnline, record-keeping elsewhere as needed, and ongoing changes—for the mentoring program, including mentoring check-ins, mentor trainings, and any other mentoring scheduling needs
  • Follow the Writing Center Scheduling Order of Operations
  • Collaborate with other teams to ensure overlapping time is scheduled for mentor-mentee pairs each quarter

All PDSMs: Develop and manage content and materials for professional development programs and events

• Manage professional development content in Notion, including content specific to the PD program you manage, tutor onboarding materials, etc.
• Manage Slack channels—creation, content, membership, and engagement—relevant to professional development initiatives and events as needed
• Collaborate to create, revise, and launch onboarding materials for new staff in Autumn Quarter, including the onboarding checklist, the Collaborative Observations process, etc.
• Support the Associate Director in developing agendas and materials for all-staff events like All-Staff Orientation and Winter Retreat, e.g. creating materials for and facilitating Conversation Cafe
• Review professional development content in the Writing Center Handbook and suggest changes as needed

All PDSMs: Assist in planning and implementing events

• Coordinate logistics, planning, and organization of PD events, including staff socials, mentor training, and other events that may arise
• Ensure all aspects of event planning are completed for each event, including room reservations, catering, flyers/registration, invitations, promotion, supplies, scheduling logistics, etc.

All PDSMs: Facilitate events

• Host portions of All-Staff Orientation and Winter Retreat (e.g. Conversation Cafe) as needed
• Facilitate Tutor Talk sessions
• Host staff social events
• Lead Autumn Quarter Mentor Training and facilitate any other mentoring professional development sessions as needed