As College Possible celebrates 25 years of creating endless possibilities, we are spotlighting leaders whose passion and commitment have shaped our mission and fueled our growth. In Chicago, one of those leaders is Elve Mitchell, whose personal story and professional journey embody what it means to make college possible.
A Promise to Students
“What first drew me to College Possible was its unwavering commitment to students from low-income communities—students with extraordinary talent, drive and potential who too often lack the same opportunities as their peers,” he recalls.
For him, College Possible isn’t just an organization. It’s a promise: that brilliance and determination, when matched with the right support, can change lives, families and entire communities. His passion is fueled by the people and the purpose: the students, AmeriCorps members, staff and volunteers who make the mission real every day.
In Chicago, where the narrative often focuses on challenges, Mitchell sees something different: the resilience, brilliance and hope of young people. “I often picture our role as being the runway—steady, supportive and reliable—while our students are the planes, equipped with the engines and greatness to take flight. That image fuels me.”
A Defining Moment
When Mitchell first joined College Possible, he met Jamal, a freshman at the University of Missouri wrestling with imposter syndrome. Drawing on his own experience navigating college without always feeling like he belonged, Mitchell encouraged Jamal to look beyond the doubts and see the possibilities in front of him.
Months later, Jamal’s coach reached out to share how that simple conversation had shifted Jamal’s perspective—and her own. Jamal went on to graduate, and the two have stayed connected ever since. For Mitchell, it was a powerful reminder: “Our greatest impact often comes not from grand gestures, but from being present, believing in students, and affirming that they already have what it takes to succeed.”
Innovation and the Future
Looking ahead, Mitchell is excited about how College Possible continues to evolve. “At the national level, we’re building AI- and data-informed systems that keep us at the forefront of education support,” he says. “Here in Chicago, we’re using data in new ways to drive enrollment, persistence and graduation rates.”
He sees technology as a complement to human connection. “Our AI-backed coaching tools give students real-time access to information while freeing coaches to focus on what matters most: authentic, meaningful relationships.”
For Mitchell, the future of College Possible is bold, innovative and student-centered. “Even as the education landscape shifts, our North Star has not wavered—keeping students at the center.”
Why This Work Is Personal
Mitchell’s commitment is rooted in lived experience. Growing up in foster homes and group homes from the age of 6, he knows firsthand what it feels like to be a first-generation student navigating college without a roadmap. “College was the turning point in my life,” he says. “It gave me structure, confidence and purpose. It reminded me that my circumstances did not define my future.”
Today, he views a college degree as a passport—an entry point to new perspectives and economic mobility. “I want every student we serve to hold that passport in their hands, knowing they already carry within them the ability to soar.”
Words of Encouragement
When asked what advice he would give to students, Mitchell doesn’t hesitate: “Keep going. This journey isn’t a sprint—it’s a marathon. There will be days when fear feels heavy or when imposter syndrome whispers in your ear. But on the other side of those hardships is success, growth and greatness. And you deserve all of it.”
With characteristic style, he closes with his own poetic message—a reminder of resilience and becoming: “You are a walking ellipse—unfinished, evolving, still becoming. When the weight of it all feels like punctuation, remember you are not a period. You are a comma. A pause, not a finale. Your sentence isn’t over. Your paragraph isn’t done. You are still writing your book … and when it’s complete, it will be a masterpiece.”
As we mark 25 years of College Possible, Mitchell’s story reminds us why our mission matters: because behind every statistic is a student rewriting their story. With the right support, those stories become testaments of resilience, brilliance and possibility.
More about Elve Mitchell
Elve Mitchell is the senior director of program operations at College Possible Chicago, a college access and success organization that helps students from low-income backgrounds and first-generation college students thrive in college. He supports nearly 2,000 students each year, guiding them to enroll, stay on track, and graduate. UnderMitchell’s leadership, the Chicago site became one of the highest-performing in the country for college enrollment and persistence, raising College Possible student’s six-year graduation rates from 35% to 51%. He has built systems that connect high school and college teams, created near-peer coaching programs, and developed tools that highlight student strengths to guide support. His purpose is always to help students achieve their goals and graduate from colleges that are a strong academic and financial fit.
