2022-23 MELLON PROGRAM AGENDA
June 1
Virtual Zoom Orientation, 11:00 am CST
June 10
Select Mentors. Fill out the form here (also sent via email).
Update your bio in the spreadsheet and add a bio picture (high resolution). Folders are in your shared work folder.
June 27
Job Market materials due. Upload to your respective folders by the deadline. Link to your shared folders here (you must accept the invitation sent via email to upload).
June 30
One-on-one meetings with Albert
*Zoom links in calendar invites
July 5
10:00 am-12:00 pm CST: Virtual Workshop: Introduction to the Job Market
1:00 pm–3:00 pm CST: Virtual Workshop: Cover Letters
July 6
10:00 am–12:00 pm CST: Virtual Workshop: Teaching and Diversity Statements
1:00 pm–3:00 pm CST: Virtual Workshop: The Academic Interview
July 8
Writing documents due. Submit to your shared folders.
July 11-14 Latina/o Studies Conference, South Bend
August 1
Revised job documents due
August 9
One-on-one meetings with Albert
*Zoom links in calendar invites. If you need to change the time, please try to trade with someone here and then let Albert and Jennifer know.
August 26
12:00 pm CST: Alum Talk with Dr. Leigh-Anna G. Hidalgo (Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, SUNY, Binghamton University)
2:00 pm CST: Virtual Writing Workshop II
September 21
Job documents due: upload to your folders. Albert and Deanna will distribute them to your mentors.
September 27-October 1 Fall Institute
Our Fall Institute will take a hybrid format, with IUPLR/UIC Mellon staff and fellows attending in-person at the Illini Center. We will have a virtual alumni panel on September 29. Mentors will virtually attend the Fall Institute events on September 30.
September 27
Fellows arrive in Chicago and check into the Crowne Plaza Chicago West Loop (25 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60661)
September 28
1:00 pm CST: Lunch with fellows and Program Coordinator at 5 Rabanitos (1758 West 18th Street Chicago, IL 60608)
2:30 pm CST: Visit to the National Museum of Mexican Art with fellows and Program Coordinator
6:00 pm CST: Dinner at Athena (212 S Halsted St #1, Chicago, IL 60661) with fellows and IUPLR/UIC Mellon staff
September 29: In-person at the Illini Center
9:00 am CST: Breakfast and Check-Ins
10:00 am CST: Preparing for the Job Interview Workshop
12:00 pm CST: Lunch
1:00 pm CST: Writing Workshop #3
2:00 pm CST: Alumni Panel with Dr. Carmela Muzio Dormani (2018–19 cohort), Dr. Angélica Becerra (2018–19 cohort), and Dr. Amy Martinez (2021–22 cohort)
September 30: In-person at the Illini Center with Mentors Attending Virtually
9:00–10:00 am CST: Breakfast and Check-Ins
10:00–11:00 am CST: Orientation with Mentors and Staff Only
Mentors will meet our Program Director Dr. María de los Angeles Torres, Professionalization Consultant Dr. Albert Laguna, Program Coordinator Dr. Deanna Ledezma, and our RAs Elizabeth Obregon and Algae Guzman to discuss the history of IUPLR and expectations for the fellowship program and mentorship.
11:00 am–12:30 pm CST: Mentor Panel and Breakout Sessions
This is a panel with all the mentors, fellows, and staff. We ask the mentors to contribute an informal presentation (about five minutes) about their experiences and advice regarding the job market, transitioning from graduate school, and/or navigating your first years on the job. After all the mentors participate, we will open it up to questions from the fellows.
Following the panel, you will have fifteen minutes in breakout groups with the fellows to meet and discuss your plans for the fellowship year.
12:30–1:30 pm CST: Lunch
Mock Job Interviews
Each mentor will participate in a mock job interview with their mentee and Albert Laguna. This will give fellows the opportunity to practice and receive constructive and supportive feedback. We will be providing you with their job documents, which they have been working on all summer, a week in advance of the Fall Institute. Albert will give you further instructions about the interviews during our orientation.
1:30 pm CST: Luz Acosta and Jennifer Ortiz
2:10 pm CST: Lisa Jahn and Rosalyn Negrón
2:50 pm CST: Brenda Lara and Yvette J. Saavedra
3:30 pm CST: Valentina Jager Lopezllera and micha cardénas (if available)
4:10 pm CST: M. Roxana Loza and Cristina Rhodes
4:50 pm CST: Arón Montenegro and Macarena Gomez-Barris
October
Monthly check-ins begin at the end of October
November 1
Share your updates and dissertation timeline and task-based outline with your IUPLR director, our Mellon Program Director Nena Torres, Program Coordinator Deanna Ledezma, and Program Assistant Algae Guzman no later than November 1.
December 8
Monthly check-in meeting
January 12
Monthly check-in meeting. We will begin the peer review component of our Writing Program in January. Drafts from writers are due on January 19 and feedback from respondents is due on January 26 (due dates extended).
February 1
Share your updates and dissertation timeline and task-based outline with your IUPLR director, our Mellon Program Director Nena Torres, Program Coordinator Deanna Ledezma, and Program Assistant Algae Guzman no later than February 1.
February 16
Monthly check-in meeting
March 23
Monthly check-in meeting
April 21
IUPLR/UIC Mellon Fellowship Alumni Panel: Transitioning from PhD Candidates to Postdoctoral Fellows and Assistant Professors
April 27
Monthly check-in meeting