My partner and I often joke that we have a mixed marriage. Our joking is not exclusively because one of us is Black and the other is White. It is not because one of us started out as a dog person and the other a cat person (we have both). Nor is it even that one of us is a vegetarian and the other is a carnivore. No, the joke is based on the fact that one of us works in academic affairs and the other in student affairs.
Reciprocity over Hierarchy: Designing and Implementing a Student-Led Reverse Mentoring Program
Many academic leaders, including administrators and faculty members, participate in traditional mentoring programs that prioritize hierarchy. But these programs typically don’t foster engagement and connection between students and faculty or
Marquita Lyons-Smith and Keva Suitte
October 19, 2026
