The Founder’s Corner

Vision: Closing the Mentorship Gap & Cultivating Future Leaders

For far too long, students—especially first-generation students of color—have navigated college with limited guidance beyond the classroom. While academic advising provides direction on coursework, it often falls short in addressing the personal, social, and professional challenges that define a student’s journey. The need for holistic mentorship—a system of guidance that extends beyond academics—has never been more urgent.

Why Mentorship Matters: Beyond the Classroom, Beyond the Degree

Many students struggle in silence, facing challenges that extend far beyond their GPAs:
✔ Adjusting to new academic and social environments
✔ Balancing family pressures with personal aspirations
✔ Navigating relationships, networks, and career pathways
✔ Battling imposter syndrome and self-doubt in unfamiliar spaces

These barriers are real. I know because I lived them. I saw peers with enormous potential falter—not for lack of ability, but for lack of support. Students need more than resources; they need mentorship. They need someone who not only understands their challenges but believes in their ability to rise above them.

From Mentee to Mentor: A Mission Rooted in Experience

My journey from a student seeking guidance to a mentor shaping futures has been one of the most profound transformations of my life. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring more than 500 people, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of mentorship in action.

I’ve seen students who once doubted their own abilities step into leadership roles, secure competitive internships, land full-time jobs, and graduate with honors. I’ve seen the quiet, hesitant freshman become a confident, capable professional. And through it all, one truth has remained constant:

When people feel seen, valued, and supported, they don’t just succeed—they thrive.

The Urgency of Mentorship in STEM & Beyond

As a PhD in Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, my work has always revolved around solving complex problems. But the most pressing challenge I’ve encountered isn’t theoretical—it’s structural.

Within STEM fields, I have seen firsthand how students of color are disproportionately underrepresented, often facing barriers not just in the classroom, but in industries that weren’t built with them in mind. The absence of mentorship in these spaces isn’t just an oversight—it’s a crisis.

This made one thing abundantly clear:

👉🏾 Mentorship isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
👉🏾 It can mean the difference between a student giving up or breaking through.
👉🏾 It has the power to change career trajectories, build leaders, and reshape industries.

The SUMMIT: A Legacy of Empowerment

True leadership isn’t just about solving problems as they arise—it’s about creating sustainable systems that address challenges at their core. That is the driving force behind The SUMMIT.

Through intentional mentorship, structured programming, and leadership development, The SUMMIT is more than a support system—it is a movement. It is a space where students don’t just survive college; they thrive in their careers and communities.

Because when students are given the tools, mentorship, and support they need:
✔ They rise.
✔ They challenge the odds.
✔ They lead.

This is my mission. This is my purpose. And this is what drives me every single day—to empower the next generation of leaders, problem-solvers, and change-makers who will leave the world better than they found it.

Dr. Kevin Muchir, PMP, CCSP