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Mentoring is one of the most effective and popular approaches to aid professional development in higher education. This study uses Scholarly Personal Narrative (SPN) to explore the mentoring experiences of two Black male faculty members employed at large predominantly White research universities. Prior to their current stations, both men worked within student affairs and university administration. They describe the necessity of mentoring in their professional trajectories and assert that without mentoring they would not inherently possess the social or professional capital to be successful. Concurrently, they fervently espouse that it is the responsibility of senior Black faculty members to mentor the newer Black faculty who enter the field. Through this study an emic view of their experiences shed light on the arduous journeys that Black men endure in higher education, and the pivotal role mentoring can play in making the journey successful. The study has the potential to start conversations for university administrators, department heads, and faculty development professionals about the role of mentoring in the retention and success of Black male faculty members.

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