An Athens State University faculty mentor is an experienced and trusted faculty member who works with a first-year faculty member (a.k.a., protégé) participating in the First-Year Faculty Experience. A faculty mentor serves as an available resource, a supportive and friendly guide, a respectful advocate, and an active listener for the protégé.
Vision
The Athens State University First-Year Faculty Experience will become a culture of mentoring faculty members culminating in the long-term success of all faculty members who have participated in the program.
Mission
The program provides a supportive framework for its new faculty members (protégés) to achieve success by strategically assigning mentors to protégés leading to a professionally trusting relationship. Moreover, the First-Year Faculty Experience offers opportunities for protégés to interact across academic departments, colleges, and other university units through engaging, collaborative, informational sessions, and workshops.
Program Goals
- To help new faculty members acclimate to the Athens State academic, administrative, and physical environments.
- To understand the meaning and the execution of effective teaching at Athens State University
- To foster a relationship with a faculty mentor that should be free from scrutiny, creating a relationship in which a new faculty member has a sense of discretion when sharing concerns regarding general or specific aspects of the academic appointment
- To provide a forum through which new faculty members discuss how to promote student success
- To assist in the retention of good faculty members
- To establish a sense of camaraderie among the new faculty members across colleges and appreciation for members of the staff and administration
- To educate new mentors about the mentoring process
- To establish a desire among faculty to serve as a mentor or serve multiple times as a mentor.
Contact Information

Ronald Merritt
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs- Phone:256-233-6527 Phone:256-233-6527
- Email:Ronald.Merritt@athens.edu
- Department:College of Arts and Sciences
- Office:
Waters Hall, Room S203A
Members of the 2020-21 FYFE Cohort

Robert Torregrosa
Assistant Professor of Chemistry- Phone:256-233-6521 Phone:256-233-6521
- Email:Robert.Torregrosa@athens.edu
- Department:College of Arts and Sciences
- Office:
Waters Hall

Steve Wang
Associate Professor of Advanced Manufacturing Management- Email:Steve.Wang@athens.edu
- Department:College of Business
- Office:
Sanders Hall

John Wells
Assistant Professor of Occupational Health & Safety Management- Phone:256-216-5358 Phone:256-216-5358
- Email:John.Wells@athens.edu
- Department:College of Business
- Office:
Sanders Hall
Mentors
Mentor for Dr. Robert Torregrosa is Dr. Sara Cline.
Mentor for Dr. Steve Wang is Dr. Mike Essary.
Mentor for Dr. John Wells is Dr. Kim Roberts.