Not the faculty, not the president or chancellor, not anyone on the senior leadership team, not any dean or provost, not even the support staff. Students are the most important people on a college campus with four-year programs because without them, the two core missions of colleges and universities have no meaning: (1) providing professional training and related credentials and (2) creating new knowledge and innovation.
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
