Become a LEEAD Mentor

Support CREE Practice

Leaders in Equitable Evaluation and Diversity (LEEAD) Scholars transition from accomplished professionals to successful leaders in evaluation committed to integrating a culturally responsive and equitable evaluation (CREE) approach with support from their Mentors.

The mentoring component is central to the LEEAD model, with most Scholars rating the relationship with their Mentor as valuable to their experience. Many Mentors have had positive experiences and have served as Mentors for multiple cohorts.

Why Serve as a LEEAD Mentor?

Mentors can support Scholars in a variety of areas, including opportunities for career development and advancement in the evaluation field; navigating the field of evaluation, and CREE specifically; and building a professional network. Mentors offer support during Scholars’ completion of the online curriculum and their Practicum Site placement. This could involve helping them negotiate their contract and the scope of work or providing guidance on completion of evaluation deliverables. Mentors are given a modest honorarium for their time and commitment.

• View the LEEAD Mentor Overview
• Meet the Cohort 5 LEEAD Mentors
• Visit the LEEAD FAQ Page

LEEAD Mentor Goals

• Meet regularly with the Scholar throughout the Program. Suggested frequency is a monthly meeting, connecting via phone, email, or video chat (or in person). 
• Provide guidance and feedback on the Scholar’s Practicum Site experience, such as negotiating evaluation contracts. 
• Attend two in-person meetings:
  • The LEEAD Symposium – to kick off the program experience (Travel will be reimbursed for the LEEAD Symposium).
  • The Culmination Ceremony – to formally conclude the Program. The culmination event will coincide with the 2026 American Evaluation Association (AEA) Conference (Mentors are expected to contribute to their travel costs).
• Communicate openly about areas of strength and weakness in relation to what can be offered to the Scholar. 
• Bolster networking skills and connections in the evaluation field. Participate in regular check-ins with the ETB Team to provide feedback on the experience. 
• Complete evaluation surveys to provide feedback on the LEEAD model and experience.

Both Scholars and Mentors complete an assessment, which is used to match a complementary mentor-mentee pair. The matching process is based on a number of factors including personal background, research interests, mentoring needs and approach, work settings, geographic location, and other priorities identified by Scholars. One-to-one matches are made based on opportunities for strong connections. Thus, Mentors are selected based on the cohort’s overall characteristics and career interests.