Race to 100 Alumni

Sholom Gutleizer

KCC Class of 2019
Major: Mental Health and Human Services
Current Title/Profession: Mindfulness Coach, Therapist & Social Worker at Be At Peace Therapy. 

Nominated by: Gordon Alley-Young

Sholom Gutleizer came to Kingsborough Community College with a clear sense of purpose driven by his need to understand and address human suffering in all its forms. That guiding mission has shaped every step of his journey since graduating from KCC in 2019 with a degree in Mental Health and Human Services. Today, he works as a Mindfulness Coach and Private Practice Therapist, running his own sober living practice serving Jewish men and women while connecting his clients to jobs, community, and the holistic support they need to achieve substance-free living.

After graduating from Kingsborough, Sholom transferred to New York University, where he earned his Bachelor of Social Work, graduating Summa Cum Laude, followed by a Master of Social Work also from NYU. His academic trajectory is a testament to the strong foundation KCC provided for him. The transition from community college to one of the nation’s most competitive universities was made possible, he says, by the confidence and skills he developed while attending KCC. While attending, he did not just study, but he was given the opportunity and encouraged to lead. Sholom served as both Vice President and President of the Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa, immersing himself in campus life and the transfer process in ways that prepared him for everything that followed.

Sholom’s Private Practice weaves together mindfulness therapy, and social work into an integrated approach to wellness. His sober living program goes beyond clinical care, offering clients job connections, holistic support networks, and a genuine sense of community. This person-centered philosophy can be traced directly back to his time at KCC, where his professors were deeply involved in helping their students grow and where supportive groups and communities were the norm and made a meaningful impact on students’ lives. “The professors were instrumental; they actively worked to help students promote and better themselves,” he recalls.

Sholom gives back to KCC because he understands what it represents for students who might not have another path forward. KCC offered him an affordable, close-knit space to grow, and a steppingstone that built the confidence he needed to pursue graduate-level study and eventually launch his own practice. He sees the college as being uniquely positioned to serve students who are still finding their footing and believes that investment in community college experiences pays dividends far beyond the campus.

When considering advice to give those considering Kingsborough, Sholom shares, “College is easier than it looks or seems if you just ask for help.” For Sholom, that simple truth encapsulates his KCC experience: the resources, the professors, and the community are already there. The last and only step a student needs to take is reaching out.