From Foster Youth to Future Advocate: Veteran Student Becomes by Bringing Out Potential
At 6 years old, Miser and his four older siblings entered the foster care system. By the age of 22, Miser was quarantined on the USS Nimitz while deployed during the pandemic. At 25, Miser arrived at CPP and decided it was time to step into a greater purpose: helping others realize their power through community organizing and policy.
“It was like any other typical school day," Michael Miser recalls about the day Child Protective Services intervened. After being separated from his family, he moved into the Orangewood Children's Home in Fullerton, a place he described as “like a dormitory at best but a bit military-esque.”
Miser and his siblings were separated by age, a painful but common reality in the foster care system. Some years later, things took an unexpected turn when Kimberely and Michael Miser adopted all five siblings together. It was an extraordinary and rare act that allowed Miser and his siblings to reunite under one roof and build a stable foundation that profoundly shaped his identity.
Despite this, life after high school felt uncertain. Miser described feeling lost during that time, taking on various retail jobs, unsure of his path and yearning for direction. He sought to leave Hemet, the desert town where he had spent the latter part of his upbringing.
Seeking stability, Miser enlisted in the Navy’s nuclear training program like his brother Mark before him, despite his brother's adamant disapproval of the choice.
“The nuclear training pipeline was sad; it really took a toll on everyone involved,” Miser said candidly. He was first stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, and later served aboard the USS Carl Vinson and USS Nimitz. His service included an extended deployment in 2020, when sailors were confined to the ship due to the pandemic, followed by another deployment just months later. After rising to the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class, Miser began taking on the responsibility of caring for his junior sailors, an experience that would later influence his role as a peer mentor.
Investing in Himself, Building with Others
After completing his naval service, Miser decided to use his GI Bill not just as a 
benefit, but as a launchpad.
“I saw education as the next step in becoming who I wanted to be,” he said.
He initially chose to major in business but later chose to follow his lifelong passion for advocacy and switched to majoring in political science and minoring in philosophy. He is actively involved in various on-campus programs and internships.
The Veterans Resource Center (VRC) is close to Miser’s heart as it sealed his interest in CPP for “it’s one-of-a-kind, vibrant and robust” support system for veterans.
“Elke’s influence was very welcoming,” he said of Elke Azpeitia, founding director of the Veterans Resource Center. “When you walk into the VRC, there are instant connections. And Elke brings that personal touch that makes all the difference.”
Through the center, Miser landed one of his first internships with the Veteran Peer Access Network, managing social media for the Veterans Affairs office to help connect veterans with crucial resources.
“I always tell my staff, being student centered is our mission,” said Azpeitia. “Michael has especially taken this to heart. You can see how he has amplified our mission by fostering community and support across campus.”
Unlocking the Power to Become by Doing
Despite initial hesitation from his personal experience in the foster care system, Miser also found belonging in CPP’s Renaissance Scholars program, which supports current and former foster youth.
“Within a few weeks, I had friends helping me move apartments,” he said. “That kind of connection is beautiful.”
Miser has since become a peer mentor in the Renaissance Scholars program, currently guiding his second cohort of 13 students. He meets his mentees throughout the year some monthly, and others weekly — sometimes even more frequently. He strives to exceed the requirements of his job description anytime he can. Among his mentees is Jayden Briones, a sophomore studying computer science who entered college at the age of 17.
“His transformation has been remarkable. From his social engagement around campus and in life, to academic progress and internship pursuits, he’s really begun taking opportunities, and that’s so wonderful,” Miser said.
Miser also takes pride in supporting the Undocumented Student Services Center, taking another opportunity to support and encourage students through sharing the structure, discipline and care he cultivated in the Navy.
“Veterans are disciplined, and in hard times like these for our communities, it requires a lot of discipline to get through their day-to-day lives,” he said. For Miser, the goal is always the same: to extend support, encouragement and a sense of possibility to others navigating complex systems.
Miser said his passion for mentoring others comes from a place of gratitude and hope.
“When you are foster youth and your parents choose a path without you in it, you grow to never expect to get what you want,” he said. “At CPP, opportunities and support are here to help students ‘Become by Doing.’ As a mentor, I get to help them get closer to doing what they want and being who they want to be. I think that’s more meaningful than anything I’ve achieved.”
Turning Experience into Impact
Miser said his mentees often inspire his policy work, which includes internships with the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, and Congressman Adam Smith’s office, serving the 9th District of Washington state, where he worked on child welfare legislation.
Despite balancing full-time coursework, internships, life and mentoring, Miser has continued to excel academically and was recognized as one of this year’s President's Scholars which includes a scholarship award of $2,500. He attributes his success to two factors: those who believe in him, especially Professor Daniel Lewis of the history department, and his personal commitment to ensuring everyone can thrive.
Looking to New Possibilities Ahead
After he graduates in May 2026, Miser will be pursuing the prestigious Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs — a highly selective 9-month leadership development program designed to prepare emerging leaders for impactful careers in public service. Fellows participate in hands-on projects, seminars and rotations across government, business, nonprofit and labor organizations, gaining firsthand experience in policymaking and civic engagement.
From there, he plans to pursue law school and continue using his voice in shaping policy as an advocate. Through his recent internships, he’s already begun making an impact in areas like child welfare and veterans affairs but remains open to where his path may lead him next. His time at Cal Poly Pomona has given him not just a foundation, but a launching point to a life of purpose. “It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” he said.
For Michael Miser, success is not just personal — it’s collective.
“My goal is to make people not scared to chase what they want to do, and I think that’s going well so far," he said. His mentees are not just students; they’re future leaders. “They can lead, they can build, they can thrive.”
