Dr. Jeff Leips is an Associate Professor in the Biological Sciences Department and serves as an iCubed Faculty Mentor for students majoring in the Biological Sciences. His research is focused on understanding how genetics and ecology shape the evolution of traits that influence reproduction and survival, key components of darwinian fitness.
What is your mentoring philosophy? My mentoring philosophy for the iCubed@UMBC basically involves using whatever means I can to help students navigate their way to academic success in the Biological Sciences. Different students have different needs, and the key to successful mentoring is to identify and if possible, meet the particular needs of the student. This can be as simple as just providing students with advice on how to manage their time more effectively, how to interact in the classroom to become better learners or offering advice to students on how to achieve their career goals. I think that sometimes students also just need to talk to someone who has "walked in their shoes" about the challenges they are facing (academically and personally). I often find that by just listening to students and asking them questions, they often come up with their own ways to deal with these challenges. So my philosophy is quite simple. To be a friendly, supportive (and demanding if necessary) person that students know they can come to for general information, advice and support.
What do you enjoy most about mentoring freshman students? I really enjoy the opportunity to be able to offer support and help in whatever way possible to maintain the enthusiasm of these students as and to help ensure their success in our major. Students like those chosen for this program often have to work harder to find their way at UMBC and often do not have the support mechanisms in place compared to those students in other programs. It is exciting for me to be able to provide whatever help that I can to these students so that they will have a successful and rewarding experience here at UMBC which hopefully leads to continued success after they graduate.
