PATHWAYS FOR PERSONAL EVOLUTION INSPIRED BY THE MENTORSHIP OF DR. PATRICIA KELLEY

Dr. Patricia Kelley, an esteemed evolutionary paleoecologist and educator, has used transformative learning and mentoring experiences to empower her mentees to explore diverse opportunities and evolve their unique pathways in STEM. As a pioneer in historical predator-prey interactions, Dr. Kelley has overcome numerous barriers throughout her career and exemplified the value of paving one’s own way in STEM through scholarly pursuits and academic exploration. While doing so, she has inspired her mentees to embrace scientific inquiry, pursue scholarly goals, reach personal achievements, and contribute to the broader scientific community with their unique interests, passions, and individuality. By modeling professionalism and resilience, Dr. Kelley has supported and promoted the career evolution of her mentees, instilling in them the skills and mindset necessary to thrive in STEM. Her mentorship has cultivated a network of academically diverse professionals who have become experts in their respective fields. Although mentoring encompasses many facets, our focus is on the advisor/student relationship in higher education and research. Former mentees were surveyed about their unique experiences collaborating with Dr. Kelley, and common trends were extracted to characterize Dr. Kelly’s mentorship and influence on their careers. These experiences convey how Dr. Kelley’s mentorship encouraged her students to develop their own unique evolutionary paleoecological toolkits and complex thinking skills that they have applied to their research and professional goals. As her students have progressed in their careers, many have harnessed their positive experiences with Dr. Kelley to persevere in academia, overcoming their individual barriers to establish themselves as STEM professionals. Some have even taken the role of mentor to guide the next generation of paleontologists. In doing so, they carry forward some of the mentoring approaches of Dr. Kelley, thus preserving her profound influence on the evolution of their careers.