Better mentoring could help people from under-represented groups to gain and retain faculty positions. That is the conclusion of interviews of 58 Mexican American, African American, and Puerto Rican faculty members across 22 US research institutions between 2010 and 2012 (R. E. Zambrana et al. Am. Ed. Res. J. 52, 40-72; 2015). More than 25% of those surveyed said that poor mentoring had "very significantly" affected their careers. Study head Ruth Zambrana at the University of Maryland in College Park says that effective mentors value their proteges' research agendas, help them to expand their networks, offer emotional support and provide 'political guidance'.
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