January 2025 Mentor of the Month

Brookelyn Kimball is a third-year history and secondary education major at VTSU–Castleton and is in her second year as a peer mentor. She brings compassion, patience, and creativity to her work.

Students enjoy working with Brookelyn and value her engaging, high-energy approach to coaching and skill-building.

She is passionate about helping students feel connected by introducing them to others on campus. In her free time, Brookelyn enjoys being outdoors, spending time with her dog Kylo, and coaching unified sports at a local high school.

November 2025 Peer Mentor of the Month

Haley Root is a first-year mentor at Vermont State University’s Johnson Campus whose support for students is consistently thoughtful, enthusiastic, and respectful. She meets every student with kindness and assesses how to best help them reach their goals, while always stepping up to assist—whether covering for another mentor, helping at events, or engaging in campus activities. A Biomedicine major with ambitions to become a veterinarian, Haley also serves as Student Government Treasurer, plays on the university’s soccer and basketball teams, and works as a campus lifeguard.

October 2025 Peer Mentor of the Month

Andre Rueh is pursuing an Associate Degree in Business at County College of Morris while serving in the NJ Army National Guard and taking ROTC classes. He joined the CCM mentor team in Fall 2024 and has shown constant dedication to growth and student success. Recently promoted to Lead Mentor, his positive energy and humor make him a joy to work with. We’re grateful to have him on the team!

September 2025 Peer Mentor of the Month

Kazi led an outreach initiative to recruit international students as mentors for the Fall semester. At an NVCC campus event, he enthusiastically promoted College Steps to everyone he met. Beyond recruitment, he consistently goes above and beyond in supporting his students. His efforts have engaged students and fostered a strong sense of community among both students and mentors.

June 2025 Peer Mentor of the Month

Sumaia has been a committed mentor with College Steps since October 2023. Sumaia is actively pursuing a degree in Health Science and plans to become a nurse. We observe that Sumaia shows up each day with a warm smile and a genuine passion for helping students succeed. Thank you, Sumaia, for always making sessions enjoyable and helping students feel at home on campus. 

May 2025 Peer Mentor of the Month

Kaitlin is a junior at American International College (AIC), majoring in Education and minoring in Psychology. Kaitlin consistently provides a positive learning environment where students can socially and academically thrive. Kaitlin is compassionate and intentional with her approach, and always thinking of each individual she supports. Thank you for all your good work! 

April 2025 Peer Mentor of the Month

Meet Saad Khan, our April “Mentor of the Month.” Saad has been a mentor for College Steps since March of 2024. He is currently working towards completing his associate degree in Engineering with a focus on Computer Engineering. Saad always arrives to work with a smile and does an exceptional job of supporting the students he works with. He has a great ability of connecting with others and is thoughtful and kind in all of his interactions with students. He has a great gift of connecting with students and finding meaningful ways of building them up and working together. It does not take long from working with Saad to see that he cares greatly about others and wants to help lead students to becoming the best versions of themselves. He is a wonderful resource for students, helping them homework plan, make sense of assignments, and find ways of breaking tasks into manageable steps. Saad has also helped with supporting students in utilizing resources on campus, like connecting with tutors for additional help with homework and prepping for exams. Not only has Saad done an outstanding job in his role as a mentor supporting students, but he has also gone above and beyond as the Program Support Specialist for CS at Brightpoint. In this position, Saad has contributed exceptional work supporting multiple student sessions and equipping his fellow mentors with the best strategies and resources for empowering students. Not only has Saad done an outstanding job in his role as a mentor supporting students, but he also received a promotion to be a Program Support Specialist for CS at Brightpoint. Tommy Murphy, Program Manager at Brightpoint, says, “Saad is an absolute joy to work with. His dedication to bettering the lives of our students is truly inspiring and I could not be more grateful to have him on our team!”

March 2025 Peer Mentor of the Month

Congratulate this Month’s Mentor of the Month! Camila’s dedication, leadership, and enthusiasm have made a meaningful impact on our students and the College Steps community. This semester, she has gone above and beyond by organizing our Valentine’s Day activity, creating a fun and inclusive environment for everyone. She also shared a piece of her culture by frequently bringing in Brazilian snacks, giving students and mentors a unique experience. Additionally, Camila has been an active supporter of the Anime Club, helping to foster a welcoming space where students can connect over shared interests. Her kindness, reliability, and commitment to mentorship set her apart. Camila’s ability to uplift and engage students makes her an invaluable part of our team.