Mentoring: At the heart of the nuclear (physics) family

I have been privileged to have had mentors who fostered my success as a physics student and my entry into research in experimental nuclear physics. They provided encouragement and support throughout my path towards a career in nuclear physics research, higher education and service to the research and academic communities. I feel that I have built on these mentoring models by reaching out to college and graduate students, recognizing their high potential for success, encouraging them to identify their passions, and helping them to foster their paths towards success. I am proud when I see my former students, postdocs and more junior colleagues excel in mentoring current and future generations of students and early career scientists. This presentation will tell the story of how my mentors were role models who fostered my success, my interactions with my own students and postdocs in helping them to realize their passions, and my passion for discussing with students from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and scientific interests how to prepare for graduate studies and future careers.