Entries by Megyn Jasman

To Bot or Not to Bot? How AI Companions Are Reshaping Human Services and Connection

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Reprinted from Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSRI) By Julia Freeland Fisher Jan. 21, 2025 Last year, a Harvard study on chatbots drew a startling conclusion: AI companions significantly reduce loneliness. The researchers found that “synthetic conversation partners,” or bots engineered to be caring and friendly, curbed loneliness on par with interacting with a fellow human. The study was silent, […]

The Yoda-Like Mentor Behind the Masters of Tap Dance

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Reprinted from the New York Times By Brian Seibert, July 15, 2024 As the top-shelf tap dancer Michelle Dorrance sees it, “Shift.,” the show that her company is debuting at the Joyce Theater this week, isn’t exactly a tribute to Gene Medler, her foremost teacher and mentor. “It’s not about him, it’s because of him,” she said after a […]

Flash Mentoring: An Innovative New Approach to Building Social Capital

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Convened annually by MENTOR during National Mentoring Month, the National Mentoring Summit is an opportunity for mentoring practitioners, researchers, philanthropic investors, youth leaders, government and civic leaders, and Affiliates from across the country to unite under the shared goal of driving positive change for young people. Attendees have the opportunity to learn from one another, […]

Social media, digital wellness, & mentoring

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​In an era dominated by digital connectivity, the impact of social media on youth has become a topic of intense scrutiny and debate. A comprehensive research brief by Kaufman, Deutsch, Hurd, and Fallavollita (2024) delves into the complex relationship between social media, digital wellness, and youth mentoring, offering a nuanced perspective on this pressing issue. […]

UVA Mindfulness Research for Students Is a ‘Game-Changer’

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By Audrey Breen, audreybreen@virginia.edu, September 23, 2024 Reprinted from UVAToday   James Payne, an elementary school student, took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “When you’re frustrated, when you’re having a bad day, just take some deep breaths and you’ll be good to go,” James said. He learned that lesson as a student at Semple Elementary […]

Free Webinar: Culturally Responsive Student Mentoring

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Effective Student Mentoring Webinar Series Culturally Responsive Student Mentoring Janelle S. Peifer, PhD, Licensed Psychologist Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Richmond Owner, Center for Inclusive Therapy and Wellness and Fleurish Psychotherapy This interactive webinar will focus on culturally responsive techniques for mentoring college students. In this 45 minute webinar, we will blend research on […]

New Live Course: Mentoring for Youth Mental Health

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New Live Course: Mentoring for Youth Mental Health It is becoming increasingly common for youth referred to mentoring programs to be struggling with a wide variety of mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, aggression, or attention difficulties. This course covers evidence-based techniques that can be infused into mentoring practices to more effectively […]

Does youth mentoring have a ripple effect on family functioning and well-being? Dr. Gizem Erdem shares new findings

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The Chronicle is delighted to highlight an exciting new study led by Dr. Gizem Erdem. PhD, I-LMFT, Associate Professor of Psychology, Koç University in Turkey Megyn Jasman interviewed Dr. Erdem to learn more about the key points of the study, which showed that mentoring programs benefit parents as well as children. Q: The study identifies a […]