This panel highlights the contributions of mentorship for underrepresented groups in higher education generally and at CUNY particularly. The first presentation focuses on Black Feminist Thought to examine the lived experiences of Black women leaders playing administrative roles in higher education. For these women, mentorship serves to garner community and is crucial in helping them navigate pressing career challenges. The second presentation introduces the Faculty Fellowship Publication Program (FFPP), a CUNY wide initiative sponsored by University Human Resources. The FFPP serves as a model of diversity and inclusion by continuously supporting, and advancing, the scholarly work of a diverse pool of junior CUNY faculty. The FFPP is also critical in assuring the retention of faculty from diverse backgrounds. In this panel, current FFPP mentors and a former mentee will discuss the significant impact that the FFPP has had in the career trajectory of CUNY faculty for the past twenty-six years.