Call for Applications: 2024-2025 Program Year

The Sustainable Mentorship Program (SMP) provides robust, year-long mentorship, professional development, and networking support to individuals with advanced training in musicology and related fields. Launched as a pilot program in summer 2020, the SMP has been renewed for the 2024-2025 program year. This year the program will accept twenty-four individuals across four (4) cohorts and three (3) mentoring streams. Individuals must apply to a specific mentoring stream to be considered.

In 2024-2025 the AMS will offer the following mentoring streams:

Diverse Careers: Identifying and Finding a Career for You
This stream is aimed at current students and younger professionals who are engaged in or exploring the diverse range of career options available outside of or adjacent to the academy. Participants will receive mentoring support as they assess their skills and interests, identify compatible career paths, and take concrete steps to advance along a preferred career path. This stream will support two cohorts of six individuals.

Publishing Your Work
This stream is aimed at individuals who are currently working on an article, book, multimedia project or similar work in music or music studies for which they hope to seek publication. Participants will receive mentoring support as they strengthen and finalize their project, identify suitable venues or publishers, and navigate the submission process. This stream will support one cohort of six individuals.

Getting Funded: Raising Money for Research 
This stream is aimed at current students and younger professionals who are most interested in learning how to research funding opportunities, plan and write grants, and network successfully. This stream will support one cohort of six individuals.

From September 2024 through June 2025, mentees will attend regular, virtual meetings facilitated by experienced mentors. Participants will learn valuable skills for building momentum and perseverance in order to achieve their professional goals. Mentees will receive regular feedback and participate in activities to improve professional skills. The SMP will also host a networking event held in conjunction with the 2024 AMS Annual Meeting in Chicago. Mentees chosen for the SMP will have meeting registration fees waived.

All mentees will receive ongoing, individualized support and guidance, along with cohort-based networking and professional development activities. Interested individuals must submit an application form no later than 31 May 2024, 11:59pm ET. Participants will be selected by lottery, with strong efforts made to encourage the inclusion of members of historically underrepresented groups.

 

Eligibility:

Eligibility requirements vary based on the specific mentoring stream. This year three separate streams are being offered. Their eligibility requirements are listed below. Members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

Diverse Careers: Identifying and Finding a Career for You (2 cohorts)

Applicants must hold or be pursuing a PhD or equivalent degree in musicology or a related field. All those who fall between the ABD-stage and the first five years post-graduation are eligible to apply. This includes students, part-time/adjunct instructors, contract or pre-tenure faculty, independent scholars, and/or those working in careers outside the professoriate.

Publishing Your Work (1 cohort)

Applicants must be actively working on or planning a research or writing project in music studies or a related field for which they wish to seek publication. This stream is for people interested in receiving mentoring and guidance on how to publish research publications in traditional venues, such as peer-reviewed journals, but also in the growing number of editor-reviewed and multimedia publications that are aimed at a broad audience of people interested in the study of music and culture.

Getting Funded: Raising Money for Research (1 cohort)

Applicants must have received or be pursuing a graduate degree in music studies or a related field. All those who fall between the start of the second year of graduate school and ten (10) years post-graduation are eligible to apply. This includes students, part-time/adjunct instructors, contract and tenure-track faculty, independent scholars, and/or those working in careers outside the academy.

 

How to apply:

The application form for the SMP is short and should take no more than ten minutes to complete. The form will close on 31 May 2024, 11:59pm ET. Successful applicants will be notified by mid-June 2024.

 

FAQs:

Will the names of SMP mentees be made public?

Yes, participants will be announced on the AMS website.

Does it cost anything to participate in this program?

No, there is no cost to this program. Mentees will also have registration fees for the annual meeting of the American Musicological Society waived.

May I participate in more than one of the mentorship streams?

No. In the interests of serving the largest possible cohort, mentees will be assigned to only one of the mentorship streams/cohorts.

May I apply to more than one of the mentorship streams?

No. You may apply to only one stream in a given program year.

How many mentee slots are available?

Each cohort has six slots. Twenty-four slots are available in total during the 2024-2025 program year.

What will meetings look like?

Groups will meet virtually throughout the year, at intervals that suit the goals of group members (most likely monthly, though exact schedules are yet to be determined). Active participation in these meetings must be maintained for mentees to remain enrolled in the program. Meetings will focus on the knowledge and skills necessary to articulate and accomplish professional goals, as well as the team-building and networking skills that will allow participants to support one another during the program.

Do I need any specific technology to participate?

Meetings will be hosted on Zoom or similar online meeting platforms. So long as you have the equipment and connectivity to participate in zoom calls, there is no additional technology necessary. Meetings will be synchronous, but every effort will be made to schedule meetings in a way that will include all participants.

This is a great idea! Is there a way to serve as a mentor?

Sure. Anyone interested in being a part of the Sustainable Mentorship Program should fill out the AMS committee volunteer form .