ST. LEO – A family’s effort to transform the loss of their son into hope for students in recovery is helping Saint Leo University establish a residential collegiate recovery program.
With a $1 million founding gift from Pasco County businessman and philanthropist Dewey Mitchell and his wife Becky, Saint Leo University announced plans to launch the Derek J. Mitchell Collegiate Recovery Program.
The program, named in honor of their late son, is accepting students for fall 2026.
Saint Leo’s program will provide college students recovering from drug and alcohol addiction with a sober-living environment rooted in Benedictine values that supports both recovery and academic success.
“Our family’s hope and prayer is that the Derek J. Mitchell Collegiate Recovery Program at Saint Leo University becomes a place where students in recovery feel supported, understood and empowered. We hope it provides the resources, structure and compassion needed to help them stay on their path of recovery and embrace the future ahead,” Mitchell said. “May this program help each student find lasting strength, renewed purpose and the opportunity to live a long, healthy and meaningful life.”
A native of Trinity, Derek J. Mitchell graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University and pursued graduate studies at the University of Florida. He built a career in construction and development, contributing to projects in Florida, Texas and Arizona. His memory now serves as the inspiration for a program designed to help students in recovery maintain sobriety and achieve their academic goals.
The Mitchells’ gift addresses a growing need among college students trying to maintain sobriety while pursuing their degrees.
An estimated 600,000 college students in the United States identify as being in recovery from substance use disorders, yet fewer than 200 colleges and universities offer formal collegiate recovery programs, according to Saint Leo University. Only a small percentage provide dedicated sober housing.
“Recovery starts with community, dignity and hope, and these are values that align deeply with Saint Leo University’s Catholic, Benedictine mission,” said Jim Burkee, president of Saint Leo University. “Dewey and Becky Mitchell’s extraordinary generosity and vision will allow Saint Leo University to create a life-changing program that provides support, accountability and a community where students facing challenges similar to those Derek experienced can thrive.”
The Derek J. Mitchell Collegiate Recovery Program is modeled after the StepUP program at Augsburg University. The model combines peer support, recovery-focused programming and academic engagement to promote long-term success in both recovery and college.
Saint Leo’s recovery program will provide students with dedicated sober residential housing, individual and group counseling led by licensed clinicians trained in addiction and mental health care, peer mentorship opportunities and sober social programming. Participating students will be required to maintain at least six months of sobriety before enrollment, participate in counseling and recovery meetings, and commit to the community’s sober living covenant.
“Collegiate recovery programs across the country have consistently demonstrated strong student retention, academic performance and graduation outcomes, showing that students in recovery can thrive when they have access to the right support systems,” Burkee said. “Through the Mitchells’ generosity and Derek’s legacy, Saint Leo University will be able to offer a path forward to students who need it most.”
The Mitchells’ contribution is the largest private commitment ever made to student recovery initiatives at Saint Leo University and lays the foundation for an endowment campaign to ensure the sustainability of the recovery program. Additional details and future fundraising initiatives will be announced in the coming months.
On the web: saintleo.edu
