Steven Kasparek
PhD in clinical psychology at Harvard University
Bring your education, your passions, and your purpose into the real world.
MiddCORE connects you with mentors who’ve actually done the work: CEOs, founders, and industry leaders who guide you through hands-on challenges. You’ll practice leading, negotiating, and solving real problems, then walk away with a network that keeps opening doors after the program ends.
MiddCORE runs twice a year: Winter Term in January (in person) and The LAB in the summer (virtual).
MiddCORE Winter Term 2027: Applications Open in September
Applications for MiddCORE Winter Term will open in mid-September and close at the end of October. We also have exciting news coming soon about this year’s challenge partner. Stay tuned; join our mailing list.
MiddCORE Winter Term
One month, fully immersive. You’ll work side by side with mentors on daily and weekly challenges built to make you a stronger leader and problem-solver. Open to all Middlebury undergrads. (In-person)
Learn MoreMiddCORE Summer Lab (The LAB)
One evening a week in May and June. Built to run alongside your summer experience, so what you learn on Tuesday you can use on Wednesday. Applications for the summer of 2027 open in February. (Virtual)
Learn More
Up-level your potential:
Develop the confidence, skills, hands-on experience, and network you’ll need to make a positive impact—on the world and on your future.
Impact
- 94%
- of recent participants said that MiddCORE gave them the skills to be confident in the workplace
- 91%
- declared MiddCORE to be one of their most important undergraduate experiences
- 98%
- felt they could approach strategic challenges in new ways
From Our Alumni
Michelle Yang
Financial Planning & Analyst for Amazon
Winson Law
Talent team, Venture For America
Sophia Prud'homme
Middlebury College student
Becca Havian
Bates College student
Meet the MiddCORE Mentors
No textbook will teach you this kind of problem solving: Work, dine, and engage directly with industry experts giving first-hand insight into leadership, innovation, and persuasive communication.
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Megan Nesbeth is a designer, strategist, and doer who empowers people, places, and organizations to thrive using the tools of design research, complex systems, business strategy, and the social sciences. She is currently a strategist at frog, a global design, strategy, and innovation firm.
Megan Nesbeth
Strategist at Frog Design
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Simon is the Chief Operating Officer for Orvis. He is responsible for their customer facing teams, that include Marketing, Consumer Direct, IT, Merchandising & Product Development, Sourcing, and Merchandise Operations & Planning. In 2016, Simon developed an “in-house agency” for Orvis, and lead the development of Orvis’ brand storytelling.
Simon Perkins
COO at Orvis
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Jenna Arnold serial entrepreneur and author of Raising Our Hands. She is known as the co-founder of ORGANIZE and was a National Organizer for the Women’s March on Washington. Oprah has called Arnold one of the “100 Awakened Leaders who are using their voice and talent to elevate humanity”.
Jenna Arnold
Chief Impact Officer at Rethink
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Duke Stump is a brilliant marketing and brand strategist who builds compelling brand narratives that resonate deeply with consumers on an emotional and values-driven level. He believes in the critical role of authenticity, purpose, and culture in building successful brands. He has held senior leadership roles at Seventh Generation, Lululemon, and NIKE.
Duke Stump
Lecturer, Advisor, Founder, Former Brand Leader at NIKE, Lululemon, and Seventh Generation
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MiddCORE and MiddCORE Summer Lab (The LAB) are a part of the Elizabeth Hackett Robinson ’84 Innovation Hub.