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Mirvais "Mir" Aminy
Mirvais "Mir" Aminy
00:57

Mirvais "Mir" Aminy

California State University, Fullerton

Fullerton, CA USA

"Never lose hope."

Career Roadmap

Mirvais "Mir"'s work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Teaching / Mentoring

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Day In The Life

Program Director, Project Rebound

I lead a campus support program for formerly incarcerated students.

02:41

Day In The Life Of A Program Director For Project Rebound

My Day to Day

I oversee the day-to-day operations by ensuring that staff meets the needs of our students. Our enrollment coordinator provides advising to current students and meets with potential students coming from community college or who are recently released from incarceration. I also oversee our peer navigator team which is comprised of current students serving as peer mentors for incoming students. My position as program director is to ensure each one of our departments is operating at full capacity.

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

Do not force something that is not there. Follow your heart and make sure you are pursuing your passion. Doors will open and opportunities will be presented to you because others will see the passion you exude.

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Associate's Degree

    Social and Behavioral Sciences

    Golden West College

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Sociology

    California State University, Fullerton

  • Graduate Degree

    Counseling, Student Development in Higher Education

    California State University, Long Beach

  • Certification

    Applied Disability Studies

    California State University, Long Beach

  • Certification

    Community College

    California State University, Long Beach

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    I went to prison a week after high school graduation and served 16 years.

  • 2.

    During my incarceration, I took a few college courses which sparked the belief that I was capable of more.

  • 3.

    Coming home at 34, I wrestled with doubt and fear, but I found strength in education and began rewriting the story I was told about who I could be.

  • 4.

    Community college became my waiting room—I asked questions, leaned into discomfort, and slowly realized I wanted to work in higher education.

  • 5.

    I joined Project Rebound as a student where I saw staff who shared my background, and made me believe I could lead too.

  • 6.

    I went on to earn my bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, graduate certificates, and am currently pursuing a Ph.D.

  • 7.

    Now as the program director of Project Rebound, I help students navigate housing, classes, and healing, offering the blueprint I never had.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Society in general:

    You’re a gang member. You’re no good. You’re the dregs of society.

  • How I responded:

    All my life I had negative labels thrown at me. College changed the way I saw myself. Being embraced by my professors and classmates helped me start to think that the negative things I had been told about myself weren't true. I started to manifest this new identity that I was a scholar and someone who can make a positive impact. Higher education doesn't just increase career opportunities, but it also increases your self-esteem and gives you a new way to present yourself to others.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

Click to expand

  • I spent 16 years incarcerated, starting at age 18. After being released and redefining my identity through education, I know support formerly incarcerated students navigate a system that wasn't built for them.

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