[AUDITORY] =?UTF-8?Q?=F0=9F=9A=80_WIMIR_Mentoring_Program_2026=3A_Connect=2C_Shar?= =?UTF-8?Q?e_&_Grow_=F0=9F=8C=9F?= (Zafar Rafii )

Subject: [AUDITORY] =?UTF-8?Q?=F0=9F=9A=80_WIMIR_Mentoring_Program_2026=3A_Connect=2C_Shar?= =?UTF-8?Q?e_&_Grow_=F0=9F=8C=9F?= From: Zafar Rafii <zafarrafii@xxxxxxxx> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2025 11:53:00 -0700 --000000000000a1d5b8063f7c72fb Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable (Apologies for cross-posting) Dear friends, We=E2=80=99re excited to announce the 11th round of the WIMIR Mentoring Pro= gram organized by the Widening Inclusion in Music Information Retrieval (WIMIR) group=E2=80=94formerly known as Women in MIR. Whether you=E2=80=99re seekin= g guidance as a mentee or looking to give back as a mentor, we=E2=80=99d love for you to jo= in us! =F0=9F=94=97 Sign up to be a MENTEE: https://forms.gle/ShvYwhTPqTvfoKUD9 =F0=9F=94=97 Sign up to be a MENTOR: https://forms.gle/2nvW1adaYxUbVmsz5 ------------------------------ =E2=84=B9=EF=B8=8F About the Program: The WIMIR Mentoring Program connects students and early-stage researchers from underrepresented communities=E2=80=94including women, trans and non-bi= nary individuals, and people from the Global South=E2=80=94with senior researche= rs and professionals committed to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Music Information Retrieval (MIR) and related fields. Mentees are paired with mentors who can advise on career paths, assist with projects or papers, and help navigate personal and systemic challenges. Each pair is free to define their own agenda=E2=80=94we only recommend main= taining regular contact and aiming for at least four remote meetings between January and August 2026. Note that we will begin pairing mentees and mentors by the end of October 2025 and aim to send out pairing emails by mid-November 2025. Sign-up forms will remain open through Summer 2026, so people can still join part way through=E2=80=94just keep in mind that many mentors may already be matched = by then. Please note that this program is run entirely by volunteers. By signing up, you are joining a vibrant community where members actively support one another. We therefore kindly ask you to be considerate of each other's time and efforts. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us at wimir-mentoring@xxxxxxxx ------------------------------ =F0=9F=92=AC Testimonials from Mentees and Mentors: Still wondering why you should sign up? See what last year=E2=80=99s partic= ipants had to say: My experience as a mentor was extremely positive. The primary reason is my mentee's engagement. She asked thoughtful questions that provoked interesting conversations. I attempted, as much as possible, to coach rather than advice. In between every session, my mentee acted on the coaching and came back with new insights that led to more interesting conversations. This mentorship program has been incredibly valuable for me as an entrance to the MIR community, and has exposed me to several opportunities I wouldn't have known about otherwise. Everyone I've met has been welcoming and clearly passionate about their work, which makes me all the more excited to do research in this field. To me, it is really a "help corner", a place where people are willing to give love and care to each other. It creates not only the "mentoring" relationship, but also brings up emotional connections and helps to build the community as a whole. After deciding to make a career pivot into MIR, I was nervous that I would have to re-build a professional network from scratch, but this program has jump started my career by pairing me with an insightful mentor who gave me great advice and is forever a friendly face in the community. This is more than just a mentorship, my mentor and I connected on a personal level and will hope to stay in touch as things in our lives evolve. Throughout the months, many things in our lives have changed and grown, and having my mentor to guide me through with their wisdom and experience has been invaluable. I would definitely recommend WIMIR to anyone who has questions and looks to grow! Thank you for your continued support=E2=80=94we look forward to welcoming y= ou to the program! Warm regards, The WIMIR Mentoring Program organizers Lele Liu, Yun-Ning (Amy) Hung, and Zafar Rafii --000000000000a1d5b8063f7c72fb Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr"><span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-famil= y:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-varia= nt-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:no= rmal;vertical-align:baseline">(Apologies for cross-posting) <= p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.2;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;ma= rgin-bottom:0pt"><span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif= ;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;= font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-alig= n:baseline">Dear friends, <span style=3D"fo= nt-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color= :transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;fon= t-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">We=E2=80=99re excited = to announce the <span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans= -serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-v= ariant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternate= s:normal;vertical-align:baseline">11th round of the WIMIR Mentoring Program= <span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb= (0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-varia= nt-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline= "> organized by the <span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,= sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;fo= nt-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alter= nates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Widening Inclusion in Music Informati= on Retrieval (WIMIR)<span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,= sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numer= ic:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;ver= tical-align:baseline"> group=E2=80=94formerly known as <span style= =3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background= -color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-varia= nt-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline= ">Women in MIR<span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-s= erif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:nor= mal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-= align:baseline">. Whether you=E2=80=99re seeking guidance as a mentee or lo= oking to give back as a mentor, we=E2=80=99d love for you to join us!</span= > <span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,= sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;fo= nt-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alter= nates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">=F0=9F=94=97 Sign up to be a MENTEE</= span><span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0= ,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant= -east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">= : <a href=3D"https://forms.gle/ShvYwhTPqTvfoKUD9">https://forms.gle/ShvYwhT= PqTvfoKUD9</a><span style=3D"font-size:11pt;fo= nt-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;fo= nt-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;fo= nt-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">=F0=9F=94=97 Sign up = to be a MENTOR<span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-s= erif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:nor= mal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-= align:baseline">: <a href=3D"https://forms.gle/2nvW1adaYxUbVmsz5">https://f= orms.gle/2nvW1adaYxUbVmsz5</a> <hr><= /p> <span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sa= ns-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font= -variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alterna= tes:normal;vertical-align:baseline">=E2=84=B9=EF=B8=8F About the Program:</= span> <span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Ro= boto,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,33,36);background-color:transparent;font-varia= nt-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:no= rmal;vertical-align:baseline">The WIMIR Mentoring Program connects students= and early-stage researchers from underrepresented communities=E2=80=94incl= uding women, trans and non-binary individuals, and people from the Global S= outh=E2=80=94with senior researchers and professionals committed to advanci= ng Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Music Information Retrieval (M= IR) and related fields. <span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:rgb(32= ,33,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-varia= nt-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline= ">Mentees are paired with mentors who can advise on career paths, assist wi= th projects or papers, and help navigate personal and systemic challenges. = Each pair is free to define their own agenda=E2=80=94we only recommend main= taining regular contact and aiming for at least four remote meetings betwee= n January and August 2026. <span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(= 0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-varian= t-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"= >Note that we will begin pairing mentees and mentors by the end of October = 2025 and aim to send out pairing emails by mid-November 2025. Sign-up forms= will remain open through Summer 2026, so people can still join part way th= rough<span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;col= or:rgb(32,33,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;f= ont-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align= :baseline">=E2=80=94jus= t keep in mind that many mentors may already be matched by then.= Please n= ote that this program is run entirely by volunteers. By signing up, you are= joining a vibrant community where members actively support one another. We= therefore kindly ask you to be considerate of each other's time and ef= forts. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us at = <a href=3D"mailto:wimi= r-mentoring@xxxxxxxx">wimir-mentoring@xxxxxxxx</a>. <hr><= /p> <span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sa= ns-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font= -variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alterna= tes:normal;vertical-align:baseline">=F0=9F=92=AC Testimonials from Mentees = and Mentors: <span style=3D"font-size:11pt;= font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;= font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alt= ernates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Still wondering why you should sign= up? See what last year=E2=80=99s participants had to say: <p= dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.2;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;mar= gin-bottom:0pt"><span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;= color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-varian= t-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:nor= mal;vertical-align:baseline">My experience as a mentor was extremely positi= ve. The primary reason is my mentee's engagement. She asked thoughtful = questions that provoked interesting conversations. I attempted, as much as = possible, to coach rather than advice. In between every session, my mentee = acted on the coaching and came back with new insights that led to more inte= resting conversations. <span style=3D"font-= size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:tr= ansparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-a= sian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">This me= ntorship program has been incredibly valuable for me as an entrance to the = MIR community, and has exposed me to several opportunities I wouldn't h= ave known about otherwise. Everyone I've met has been welcoming and cle= arly passionate about their work, which makes me all the more excited to do= research in this field. <span style=3D"fon= t-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:= transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east= -asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">To me= , it is really a "help corner", a place where people are willing = to give love and care to each other. It creates not only the "mentorin= g" relationship, but also brings up emotional connections and helps to= build the community as a whole. <span styl= e=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);backgroun= d-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-vari= ant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baselin= e">After deciding to make a career pivot into MIR, I was nervous that I wou= ld have to re-build a professional network from scratch, but this program h= as jump started my career by pairing me with an insightful mentor who gave = me great advice and is forever a friendly face in the community.= <span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-= serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-= variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternat= es:normal;vertical-align:baseline">This is more than just a mentorship, my = mentor and I connected on a personal level and will hope to stay in touch a= s things in our lives evolve. Throughout the months, many things in our liv= es have changed and grown, and having my mentor to guide me through with th= eir wisdom and experience has been invaluable. I would definitely recommend= WIMIR to anyone who has questions and looks to grow! <span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;co= lor:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;fon= t-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:b= aseline">Thank you for your continued support=E2=80=94we look forward to we= lcoming you to the program!<span style=3D"fo= nt-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color= :transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;fon= t-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Warm regards,</= p><span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-= serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:no= rmal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical= -align:baseline">The WIMIR Mentoring Program organizers<span style=3D"font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color= :rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-v= ariant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:base= line">Lele Liu, Yun-Ning (Amy) Hung, and Zafar Rafii</div= > --000000000000a1d5b8063f7c72fb--

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postings/2025/
maintained by:

DAn Ellis <dpwe@ee.columbia.edu>
Electrical Engineering Dept., Columbia University