Some of the association's goals include: providing a regular public forum for effective mentoring; providing professional development activities; identifying and maintaining information on mentoring strategies and programs which research and practice have found successful; facilitating the growth of effective mentoring and implementing and maintaining mentoring programs; and providing leadership concerning current and emerging mentoring issues.

Kochan, who has served as the college's interim dean for three years, recently presented the opening address for the 17th Annual International Mentoring Association Conference in Tampa, Fla. For the opening address, Kochan discussed "Reflections on the Metamorphosis of Mentoring from Micro and Macro Perspectives."

She is internationally known for her expertise in mentoring and is the series editor for the Perspectives in Mentoring Series. The second book in this series, "Global Perspectives on Mentoring: Transforming Contexts, Communities, and Cultures," was published in December 2003. The book details 19 programs from around the world and looks at the impact of culture and context on mentoring programs and relationships.

The first book in the series, "The Organizational and Human Dimensions of Successful Mentoring Programs and Relationships," explored the characteristics of successful mentoring programs and relationships. It was published in 2002. Both books were also recently selected for recognition by the AU Bookstore and Ralph Brown Draughon Library.

Kochan earned her doctorate in educational foundations and policy studies with an emphasis in adult education and organizational development from Florida State University. She holds a certificate in human resource development and program evaluation for FSU as well. She earned her master's in reading education from the University of Guam and her bachelor's in elementary education and English from the State University of New York at Fredonia.

She has had extensive experience in program development and evaluation; staff development and training; performance assessment and evaluation; curriculum and instruction; and management and administration. Kochan has served as project director for numerous curriculum, administrator and teacher training programs; as a school principal and district level administrator; and as superintendent of Florida State University School.

Kochan has written articles on the teacher as a researcher and has published book chapters on family and school relationships and middle school organizational change. Her major research interests are barriers to organizational change and school and university collaboration.