Katie Billings with her undergraduate honors thesis student, Raphael Barglow, after he presented his research at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting in 2023.
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Mentoring
An enormous part of Katie's teaching is through first-hand mentorship of research assistants, teaching assistants, honors thesis students, and independent studies. Katie has formally mentored over a dozen undergraduate and graduate students across these roles. In 2018, Katie's colleagues selected her as the recipient of the Best Graduate Teaching Assistant Award. For her informal mentorship of junior graduate students, Katie was awarded the Graduate Peer Mentor Award in 2019. Teaching through mentorship is one of Katie's favorite parts of her job. |
What is it like working with Katie?
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"It has been more than a pleasure working with Katie. She has taught me so much, not only
academically, but also about life in general." |
"I can confidently say that Katie is one of the most wise, level headed, and engaged mentors that I have encountered as an aspiring academic."
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"Katie is reliable, dedicated, hardworking, passionate, and open. I could not have asked for a better mentor."
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Mentee Testimonials
"During the 2022-2023 school year, I had the privilege of working with Katie on an academic project that was not only engaging and fascinating, but significantly meaningful as well. I learned so much about the mechanics and ethics involved in qualitative research through the work, but even more valuable than that, I gained explicit insight on social and psychological matters that carry substantial influence in our world. Much of the material we were working with was emotionally heavy but I never once felt uncomfortable or discouraged because Katie would always make herself available to unpack and discuss any feelings, thoughts, or concerns that came up in the research. Prior to this experience I had little consideration for my future post graduation; however, after working with Katie, I could finally visualize opportunities that could align with my interests. I am eternally grateful for all of the opportunities, guidance, and inspiration that Katie has provided me with and I can confidently say her mentorship has rerouted my academic and professional path in the best way."
-Undergraduate Research Assistant
"While completing my honors thesis, Katie Billings provided invaluable mentorship and support. She understood the challenges of completing qualitative research for the first time, and offered me concrete examples of her own research, which made the process so much easier to navigate. Talking with her about challenges that came up during research, such as difficult interviews, was always enjoyable and informative, leaving me with a better sense of how to proceed and new insights I could use in the future. Overall, Katie Billings' mentorship has made me a more capable researcher and student, able to ask better questions, have difficult conversations, and complete rigorous data analysis."
-Undergraduate Honors Thesis Student
"One of the first questions Katie asked me when proposing the idea of being her research assistant was, “What are your areas of interest?” For me, right off the bat, this was a green flag. Asking about my interests showed that Katie was already thinking about my goals and whether she thought that our collaboration could help me reach them. Similarly, at our first official meeting, Katie immediately asked what I wanted to get out of this and what skills I most wanted to develop. Then, she would give me tasks that best aligned with my interests (e.g., doing interviews over running statistical analyses). By identifying my goals right off the bat, and then assigning corresponding tasks, Katie certainly helped me accomplish my desired outcomes."
-Undergraduate Research Assistant
I served as Katie's graduate research assistant in support of her dissertation work on suicide survival narratives. There are so many things that I appreciated about Katie's mentorship style. First and foremost, was her deep care for me as a whole person. She set time aside during our weekly meetings for emotional check-ins. In her words, this was "an important part of our work." A close second is her collaborative approach. I learned so much from Katie about qualitative analysis and codebook development while working on her project. At the same time, she welcomed my perspective and often incorporated my feedback on various codes. There was real reciprocity, dialogue, and exchange of ideas that not only made me feel like a valued member of the research team, but like my work made a difference in this project that I believe is so vital.
-Graduate Research Assistant
"One thing I really enjoyed from our [research] meetings was the academically rigorous conversations that we would have. I always left our meetings feeling like I learned something new or gained a new perspective. Our discussions were lively and engaging. We would dive deeper into the sociological phenomena, applying them both to our research as well as modern society. I also enjoyed some of the more personal aspects of our conversations. Another major strength of Katie’s is her ability to connect with others, so her inclusion of these personal moments certainly helped us build a trusting and compassionate relationship."
-Undergraduate Research Assistant
"One of Katie's greatest strengths is her unique ability to be a truly holistic mentor. While Katie has provided thoughtful feedback on numerous projects and taught me new research methodologies, her most impactful mentorship has come through conversations she and I have had about beginning a career in academia. Katie is never patronizing or acts like she has too much on her plate to talk to you. I have never encountered anyone in academia who spoke as candidly about what the life of an academic really looks like. As I begin applying to graduate school and contemplate the sacrifices I may have to make, one piece of wisdom that Katie gave me constantly runs through my head: every day, she makes the intentional decision to continue pursuing her career as an academic. By this, she urged me to stay vigilant and prioritize my wellness above all else. Having a mentor who truly sees me as an individual with unique wants and needs is not only extremely refreshing, but has transformed my perspective and will positively impact my career trajectory in years to come."
-Undergraduate Research Assistant