Career mentorship of graduate students in public administration at the intersection of the relationship between students and faculty

Abstract

Students pursue graduate degrees in public administration for many career-related reasons. Accordingly, graduate students have various career and professional development needs, some of which are fulfilled through career mentorship by faculty. This study examines career mentorship of graduate students in public administration from both the student and faculty mentor perspectives. Using qualitative data from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with public administration graduate students and faculty, we couple the different perspectives to develop an understanding of the core elements of career mentoring for graduate students. We also provide practical suggestions on how to ensure career mentorship is beneficial to graduate students in public administration programs.