The Success for Undergraduate Students in Graduate Education (SURGE) program, run by the Wayne State University Graduate School, is a pipeline program geared toward mitigating the challenges prospects face on their track to graduate school by pairing undergraduate trainees with graduate student mentors, hosting professional development workshops, and providing first-access to scholarships. 

The fourth cohort is coming to an end next month with the completion of the semester. The 2025-26 SURGE trainee application is currently open. All undergraduates are welcome to apply. 

Six SURGE scholars share how the program has assisted in their personal and professional growth. 

Cierra Jiminez
Trainee
Accounting major

“As an accounting major aspiring to become a certified public accountant, I was unsure about pursuing graduate school to meet my credit requirements when I discovered the SURGE program. It turned out to be exactly what I needed. I gained an amazing mentor who has been incredibly supportive during my final year of college and my preparations for graduate school. She helped me with scholarship letter writing, provided advice on some scholarships to apply for, and shared her own experiences as a graduate student. Her guidance has been a blessing, especially when I started out so unsure on where to start.”

Nadia Shelton
Mentor
Master’s student, public administration

Shelton is the graduate student mentor of Jiminez. An academic services officer in the Office of Academic Student Affairs and master’s student in public administration, Shelton didn’t pursue graduate school immediately after completing her bachelor’s, because she didn’t know where to start. 

“I am glad to help fill that gap for my mentee,” she said. “I recommend the program to other graduate students as a way to get involved, especially if they didn't attend Wayne State for undergrad. It has been a great way to connect with others and share important information with aspiring graduate students.”

Richard Pinaeu
Mentor
Ph.D. student, educational studies

As a first-generation college student, Pinaeu remembers what it was like navigating university. An aspiring teacher currently pursuing a Ph.D. in educational studies, mentorship comes naturally to him, and he made it official with SURGE. 

“My mentee has been awesome! I always enjoy our meetings and hearing about the great things she has been working on. Sharing my experiences with her, I think, has helped her to set up reasonable goals, understand the difference between undergraduate and graduate programs, and overall, to look ahead to where she wants to be 5 and 10 years from now. So, my greatest take-away? Watching her blaze a trail.”

Danissa Galaviz
Trainee
Education major

Pinaeu’s trainee Galaviz wants to pursue a similar career path in education, specifically as a kindergarten teacher. 

“Before SURGE, I knew I wanted to keep studying but had no clue exactly where or in what specialty. Through SURGE, I realized Wayne State’s teaching and learning master’s—focusing on early childhood—is exactly where I belong. My mentor, Richard, has given me readings, reflection prompts, and real talk about grad life. Thanks to him, I’m 100% certain about my path.

“I always knew I’d need a master’s to boost my pay as an early childhood educator, but SURGE helped me uncover my real passion: play‑based learning. Now, that’s the heart of my Honors College thesis. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have even considered it. SURGE didn’t just confirm I need grad school—it helped me define why and how.”

Rafael Ramos
Mentor
M.D./Ph.D. student, biomedical engineering

“I am in a somewhat unique position given my current training role, since I am a student of both the College of Engineering and the School of Medicine. As a result, I have met with several driven undergraduates who are interested in pursuing the physician and physician-scientist path who have had questions on how to approach this potential career path.”

Ramos has worked closely with SURGE trainee and biology major Sarah Eljahmi as he helps her prepare a competitive application for medical school.

“​​It's nice to be able to give back while also connecting a bit more thoroughly with the Graduate School on a wider university level,” he said. “It is very easy to miss these kinds of wider interactions given program and academic demands, but I think it's worth it.”

Tasia Gamble
Mentor
Master’s student, social work and public health

Inspired to “make an impact in someone else’s story,” Gamble wanted to provide a trainee with the insight she didn’t have as an undergraduate interested in graduate school.

Gamble mentors McNair scholar and public health major Taylor Singleton who was recently accepted into the University of Michigan’s Master of Public Health program for fall 2025. 

Gamble said her biggest takeaway from SURGE has been the power of intentionality, “stepping outside of ourselves to connect with others on purpose, with purpose. We learn from one another, and there’s something powerful about that.” She recommends SURGE to other graduate students interested in paying it forward to the next generation of scholars. “You will grow as a person, gain insight about yourself, and support someone else along their journey.”

Learn more about the SURGE program.