Our Mentors

POE South Bay pairs every Scholar with a volunteer mentor who provides guidance, encouragement, and real-world support throughout their college journey. Mentors come from all kinds of professional backgrounds — engineers, business leaders, educators, lawyers, retired and working alike — united by one thing: a commitment to their Scholar's success.

First-generation students are resilient and capable, but they often navigate unfamiliar territory without the "insider" knowledge that comes standard for others: how financial aid really works, what office hours are for, how to ask for help. Our mentors help close that gap.

Mentors focus on four things: building genuine trust and rapport, offering practical guidance on everything from course registration to career exploration, fostering a sense of belonging and confidence, and setting clear expectations so the relationship stays strong for all four years. The result is more than academic support — it's a relationship that helps students believe in their own future.

Hear what mentoring means to the people who do it

"You're not there to solve every problem. You're there to walk alongside them, to celebrate their wins and help them figure out the tough stuff."
— Pedro Hernández-Ramos, POE Mentor

"It's not just about giving guidance — it's about opening doors."
— Reena Mishra, POE Mentor

"One of my mentees started out studying kinesiology but realized it wasn't the right fit. After some honest conversations, he switched to applied mathematics and is now thriving in computer programming. Watching him make that leap was incredible."
— Tom Feldman, POE Mentor