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Mentor Collective
HBCU Community Experience Series
THREE-PART WEBINAR SERIES
Join us for three engaging conversations with esteemed leaders in the field, where we’ll explore the impact of mentorship at HBCUs and beyond. Through interactive discussions, Q&A sessions, and shared experiences, we’ll build a stronger network of institutions committed to student success.
| Date | Time | Topic |
| Friday, February 28, 2025 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET | The Scholarship of Mentorship at HBCUs with Dr. Levon Esters |
| Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET | The Value of Alumni Mentorship with Philip Wilkerson |
| Wednesday, April 23, 2025 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET | The Power of Community with DeMario Bell |
Why Attend?
- Exclusive Access: This series is open only to Mentor Collective HBCU partners!
- Expert Insights: Hear from thought leaders in mentorship and higher education.
- Community & Connection: Engage in interactive discussions and network with your peers.
- Flexible Participation: When you register, you’ll receive the Zoom link for each session, along with automatic email reminders. Can’t make it live? You’ll also get access to the session recordings.
🎤 Levon T. Esters, Ph.D.
Explore the role of mentorship in shaping student outcomes, fostering academic progress, and strengthening community at HBCUs.
🎤 Philip Wilkerson, M.Ed.
Uncover how mentorship addresses systemic barriers, supports first-generation students, and provides professional pathways through alumni networks.
🎤 DeMario Bell
Learn how mentorship cultivates belonging, honors cultural identities, and strengthens communities within and beyond HBCUs.
Register to attend live or to receive copies of the recordings. Attend all three sessions and receive a special thank you gift!
Meet the Speakers
Levon T. Esters, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School,
Penn State University
Dr. Levon T. Esters was named dean of the Fox Graduate School and vice provost for graduate education at Penn State in December 2022, beginning his appointment on May 1, 2023
Dr. Esters is a nationally recognized scholar on mentoring, equity, and diversity in STEM-based agricultural and life sciences disciplines. His research focuses on the mentoring needs of Black graduate students, the STEM career development of students attending Historically Black Land Grant Universities, and educational and professional mobility and development of graduate students. Dr. Esters is also an adjunct professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University and a senior research associate at the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions.
Prior to joining Penn State, he served as associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion and faculty affairs for Purdue University’s Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Esters earned a B.S. in Agricultural Business from Florida A&M University, an M.S. in Agricultural Education from North Carolina A&T State University, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Extension Education from Penn State.
Philip Wilkerson III, M.Ed
Employer Engagement Consultant,
George Mason University Career Services
Philip Wilkerson is an Employer Engagement Consultant at GMU Career Services. In this role, he serves as a liaison between employers and the GMU community to ensure career opportunities such as jobs and internships are available to students, faculty/staff, and alumni. He oversees the following industries: Media, Entertainment, Journalism, Public Relations, Graphic Design, Sports & Recreation, Hospitality & Tourism, and Technology & Engineering.
Philip was nominated as the 2024 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)’s “Mentor of the Year” for supporting other higher education professionals throughout the country by demonstrating leadership and providing exceptional support for the professional growth and advancement of his mentees. In the past, he was awarded "Employee of the Month" for GMU in September 2019, the “Forty under 40” list for GMU Black Alumni, “Forty under Forty” for the Northern Virginia area through the Leadership Center for Excellence, the "ALX Chamber Forty under Forty," as well as being a recipient of the "Pillar Award" which is for a GMU staff member who supports Black students. He is also the faculty advisor for the Iota Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the GMU NAACP chapter.
In his free time, Philip hosts a podcast called Positive Philter which focuses on well-being and Toastmasters. He is married to Maggie Wilkerson, LCSW (JMU Class of 2007, Social Work), and father to two boys, Bennett and Miles.
DeMario Bell
Founder and Community Strategist,
Gatherful
DeMario D. Bell is an award-winning community strategist, keynote speaker, and first-generation college graduate who has transformed how institutions approach mentorship and student engagement. As the founder of Gatherful and former Head of Community at Mentor Collective, he brings both strategic expertise and lived experience to building programs that drive meaningful connections and measurable outcomes.
During his tenure at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, DeMario architected and scaled the college's first comprehensive mentorship program, connecting over 200,000 alumni and students through an innovative framework that became a model for institutions nationwide. Most recently at Culture Amp, he led a global community of 100,000+ HR leaders, demonstrating how strategic community building can transform engagement and drive organizational success.
A dynamic speaker and thought leader in community strategy, DeMario helps organizations create purposeful communities that foster growth, innovation, and lasting impact. Through keynotes and consulting, he shares proven approaches for turning engaged communities into powerful drivers of organizational success.