College Possible

NBA Foundation Teams Up with National College Access and Success Nonprofit to Help Close the Degree Divide in Five Cities

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 30, 2024

ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- College Possible, a pioneering national nonprofit on a mission to boost college access and success by connecting high school and college students with near-peer coaches, today announced the renewal of its successful collaboration with the NBA Foundation. This collaboration between College Possible and the NBA Foundation will focus on helping remove barriers to college access and entry for young people of color and students from low-income communities. The grant expands upon a successful collaboration with the NBA Foundation that launched in 2023 and will deliver high-impact coaching services to even more students from low-income communities across the United States.

Key Points: 
  • This collaboration between College Possible and the NBA Foundation will focus on helping remove barriers to college access and entry for young people of color and students from low-income communities.
  • Through our continued collaboration with College Possible, we help today's aspiring students – and the next generation of leaders achieve their full education and career potential," said Greg Taylor, Executive Director of the NBA Foundation.
  • The collaboration between College Possible and the NBA Foundation ensures the continuation of existing programming.
  • It will introduce new initiatives aimed at enhancing college access and success, recruiting more students to participate, and integrating technology-enabled tools designed to assist students.

Mondelēz International Appoints Stephanie Lilak Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 12, 2023

CHICAGO, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) today announced that Stephanie Lilak will become Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, effective January 15.

Key Points: 
  • CHICAGO, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) today announced that Stephanie Lilak will become Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, effective January 15.
  • She will report directly to Dirk Van de Put, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and will be a member of the Mondelēz International Leadership Team.
  • Lilak replaces Paulette Alviti, who will retire in April following a transition period, after five-and-a-half years with the company.
  • She grew her career at General Mills, spending 23 years in Human Resources leadership roles including Sales, Operations, and International positions.

Alamo Colleges District Launches Pilot Near-Peer Coaching Program to Help More Underserved Texans Access and Complete College

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 16, 2023

SAN ANTONIO , Nov. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alamo Colleges District, the largest community college district in the south Texas region that serves 70,000+ students and provides tuition-free college to thousands of high school seniors, today announced a major new pilot initiative designed to improve first-year student retention, particularly among first-generation students and students from under-resourced backgrounds, through near-peer coaching. Through a collaboration with national nonprofit College Possible, the community college district will bring evidence-based near-peer coaching to 700 AlamoPROMISE students on two of its campuses, the majority of whom are from under-resourced backgrounds or are first-generation students.

Key Points: 
  • Beginning August 2023, the Alamo Colleges District will offer College Possible's Catalyze success coaching program to help improve persistence and retention, particularly among first-year Pell recipients and first-generation college students.
  • The collaboration with College Possible draws on the nonprofit's 20-year history of training AmeriCorps service members as college access and success mentors to help high school juniors and seniors from underserved communities enroll in -- and complete -- college.
  • In 2022, College Possible redesigned the Catalyze coaching curriculum with an increased focus on meeting the varied and complex needs of community college students.
  • Generous support from the Travelers Foundation has enabled College Possible's expansion into the community college sector over the past two years.

College Access and Success Nonprofit Taps Veteran Technology Executive to Enhance Data and Technology Infrastructure

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 6, 2023

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- College Possible, the pioneering national nonprofit on a mission to boost equitable college access and success by connecting high school and college students from low-income backgrounds with near-peer coaches, today announced the appointment of Ali Ayub as senior vice president of finance, technology, and data. Ayub brings two and a half decades of experience working at the intersection of information technology, education, banking and venture capital, including time serving as the chief digital officer of the International Baccalaureate.

Key Points: 
  • We want to marry the best of high-tech and high-touch to achieve a greater impact for students," said Dr. Siva Kumari , CEO of College Possible .
  • There is a growing body of research that shows that data-driven student success models are the key to driving positive student outcomes.
  • "I'm honored to be joining a team that's dedicated to serving students in a way that meets them where they are," said Ayub.
  • His diversified industry experience also includes time in information technology leadership roles in the financial services and venture capital sector with Mr. Cooper and Alliance Data.

Austin-Based College Access Nonprofit Unveils New Name as Statewide Expansion Continues

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 8, 2023

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- College Forward, the pioneering college access and success nonprofit that has for 20 years helped Central Texas high school and college students chart pathways to and through higher education, today unveiled its new name, College Possible Texas, marking its formal expansion statewide and its full integration into the College Possible organization. The announcement comes two years after the organization merged with College Possible, one of the largest and most respected college access and success organizations in the nation, and marks the next step in the organization's broadening its reach and impact to continue serving students on a national scale.

Key Points: 
  • AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- College Forward, the pioneering college access and success nonprofit that has for 20 years helped Central Texas high school and college students chart pathways to and through higher education, today unveiled its new name, College Possible Texas , marking its formal expansion statewide and its full integration into the College Possible organization.
  • In 2021, College Possible Texas, known as College Forward at the time, joined as the eighth College Possible regional site, alongside Chicago, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Omaha, Oregon, Philadelphia and Washington State.
  • When College Forward developed the CoPilot student data information system in 2014, College Possible was its first customer.
  • Most recently, College Possible Texas announced a $6.5 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies to help double the number of students they serve in Texas.

College Possible Texas Announces Plans to Scale Virtual Coaching and Advising Services

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 27, 2023

AUSTIN, Texas, July 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- College Possible Texas (formerly known as College Forward), the pioneering nonprofit that connects low-income high school and college students with near-peer coaches to help them navigate to and through college, today announced an ambitious new initiative to expand its services statewide. The expansion will double the number of students the organization helps to get into and graduate college throughout Texas from 6,000 to approximately 12,000 by 2025. With support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Expanding College Access in Texas Initiative will grow its proven near-peer coaching model to high schools throughout Texas and expand the organization's partnerships with colleges and government agencies statewide.

Key Points: 
  • With support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, College Possible Texas will double its reach to 12,000 low-income students statewide by 2025
    AUSTIN, Texas, July 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- College Possible Texas (formerly known as College Forward), the pioneering nonprofit that connects low-income high school and college students with near-peer coaches to help them navigate to and through college, today announced an ambitious new initiative to expand its services statewide.
  • To help close gaps in college access and completion, College Possible will expand to serve a broader population of Texas students through a newly-designed service model that provides high-quality, tech-enabled virtual coaching paired with in-person support services delivered through participating school districts.
  • Reflecting on the support I received from College Possible Texas, I've become a mentor for other first-generation students."
  • For more than two decades, College Possible has worked to help students from historically under-resourced communities overcome barriers to college admissions and degree completion through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support.

Minnesota College Access and Success Nonprofit Taps Expert on Student Success and DEIB as Executive Director

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 30, 2023

ST. PAUL, Minn., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- College Possible Minnesota, the Minnesota chapter of the pioneering national nonprofit on a mission to boost college access and success by connecting high school and college students with near-peer coaches, announced today the appointment of Dr. Aida Martinez-Freeman as its new executive director. A seasoned higher education leader and expert in the field of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB+), Martinez-Freeman brings decades of relevant experience working with nonprofits, universities, and other social impact organizations.

Key Points: 
  • College Possible Minnesota names former Macalester College and NDSU administrator Dr. Aida Martinez-Freeman as new executive director
    ST. PAUL, Minn., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- College Possible Minnesota , the Minnesota chapter of the pioneering national nonprofit on a mission to boost college access and success by connecting high school and college students with near-peer coaches, announced today the appointment of Dr. Aida Martinez-Freeman as its new executive director.
  • "I look forward to working with the College Possible Minnesota team as we advance student access and success nationally."
  • "We're thrilled to welcome her to College Possible Minnesota as our new executive director."
  • Nationally, College Possible is one of the largest and most successful college access and success programs in the country.

National College Access and Success Nonprofit Selects Expert in K-12 to College Transitions as CEO

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 11, 2023

ST. PAUL, Minn., May 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- College Possible, the pioneering national nonprofit on a mission to boost college access and success by connecting high school and college students with near-peer coaches, announced today that its Board of Directors has selected Dr. Siva Kumari as its new CEO after an extensive national search. A lifelong educator, educational researcher and an expert on the high school-to-college transition, Dr. Kumari brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having previously served as the first female Director General of the International Baccalaureate (IB) from 2014 to 2021. She succeeds interim CEO and former board chair Al Fan who will return to a seat on the board later in 2023.

Key Points: 
  • She succeeds interim CEO and former board chair Al Fan who will return to a seat on the board later in 2023.
  • "Dr. Kumari has dedicated her career to expanding access, equity, and opportunity in education.
  • She brings impressive accomplishments and skills as an executive, administrator, educator, and an academic expert in her own right," said Joanna Burleson, chair of College Possible's National Board of Directors.
  • "College Possible's work is helping to address inequities that have for too long created barriers to earning a college degree.

COLLEGE POSSIBLE CATALYZE EXPANDS SERVICES IN CALIFORNIA TO SUPPORT STUDENT RETENTION

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 2, 2023

ST. PAUL, Minn., May 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- College Possible Catalyze announced this week that it has launched new partnerships with three California universities to expand its college success support by more than 1,400 students.

Key Points: 
  • ST. PAUL, Minn., May 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- College Possible Catalyze announced this week that it has launched new partnerships with three California universities to expand its college success support by more than 1,400 students.
  • "College Possible is thrilled to expand its footprint with new institutional partners California State - San Bernardino, University of California - Santa Cruz, and Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo," said Catherine Marciano, College Possible Vice President of Partnerships.
  • California State University - San Bernardino (CSUSB) and College Possible are aligned in the mission to improve college access among underrepresented groups.
  • Their partnership with College Possible Catalyze will serve 280 students in the College of Liberal Arts each year with a focus on men of color.

College Possible Receives Grant from Travelers to Expand College Success Program

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 20, 2022

ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- College Possible, the pioneering nonprofit that connects high school and college students with near-peer coaches, today announced a $300,000 grant from Travelers, a leading property and casualty insurance company. The grant will support the expansion of College Possible's Catalyze program to the community college level, with the goal of boosting completion rates for first-generation college students and aspiring graduates from low socioeconomic backgrounds.     

Key Points: 
  • ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- College Possible, the pioneering nonprofit that connects high school and college students with near-peer coaches, today announced a $300,000 grant from Travelers, a leading property and casualty insurance company.
  • The grant will support the expansion of College Possible's Catalyze program to the community college level, with the goal of boosting completion rates for first-generation college students and aspiring graduates from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • "Community colleges can be engines for economic mobility and springboards into bachelor's degree programs," said Catherine Marciano, vice president of partnerships at College Possible.
  • "Travelers is proud to support College Possible in helping students succeed," said Tara N. Spain, vice president and chief operating officer of the Travelers Foundation.