{"id":106030,"date":"2025-11-14T13:44:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T18:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=106030"},"modified":"2025-11-14T15:30:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T20:30:21","slug":"womens-mentorship-program-seeks-participants-for-2026-cohort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2025\/11\/womens-mentorship-program-seeks-participants-for-2026-cohort\/","title":{"rendered":"Women\u2019s mentorship program seeks participants for 2026 cohort"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Caroline Hummell, the relationships that grow out of the Deborah Rosati Women in Leadership Mentorship program<\/a> are what matter most.<\/p>\n

The program is designed for women with a connection to Brock, the Niagara region or both. Applications for the 2026 cohort<\/a>, which runs January to May next year, will be accepted until Monday, Dec. 15.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis program is focused on leadership development and the building of networks, but it can also lead to friendship,\u201d says Hummell, who has served as Program Co-ordinator for the past three years.<\/p>\n

Carling Wright, a Niagara community member who works in the hospitality field, was a member of the 2025 cohort. She says she applied to be a mentee before Hummell encouraged her volunteer as a mentor instead, and she is glad she \u201ctook the leap.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI initially felt a lot of pressure to do a good job as a mentor, but I quickly realized that this program exists to learn from each other,\u201d says Wright. \u201cMy mentee and I have supported each other through professional challenges, mental health concerns, grief and more. We continue to meet beyond the program and look forward to celebrating each others\u2019 successes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wright is one of more than 100 women who have been matched in mentoring partnerships since the program\u2019s launch in 2023, following a generous gift from Deborah L. Rosati (BAdmin \u201984)<\/a> in 2022.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe program is not just named after Deborah \u2014 she has always been an active presence, delivering words of inspiration and wisdom to the group and networking with participants,\u201d says Hummell. \u201cShe\u2019s incredibly supportive of women\u2019s leadership development through mentorship.\u201d<\/p>\n

A vibrant community has grown around the program, with several past participants eager to take part again for another session of activities, speakers and partnerships.<\/p>\n

In addition to Rosati, who will speak at the kickoff meeting in January, additional guest speakers for this year\u2019s cohort include accomplished Brock alumni:<\/p>\n