Congratulations to our April 2026 Member of the Month (MeMo) Debbie Nguyen! National College Attainment Network (NCAN) staff asked her both professional and personal questions so you can get to know her and the work she does better.
Name: Debbie Nguyen
Location: Boston, MA
Alma Mater: Swarthmore College
Title and Organization: Executive Director at Alray Scholars Program
Professional Questions
Q: What brought you to the college access and success field initially?
A: As a low-income and first-generation college student, I landed at Swarthmore College through the guidance of teachers and counselors at my high school and the support of the Questbridge program. While at Swarthmore, I spent a summer working at a local college access center and felt a deep connection to the students and their goals and passions. Since then, I have dedicated my career to expanding opportunities for young people.
Q: What do you love most about your role or organization?
A: I love that the Alray Scholars Program works with an often-overlooked population: college comebackers. Many Alray students are older and find that college and career programs and advising are not designed for them. Alray helps returning college students navigate college and advocate for themselves. My proudest moments have been helping students access resources they deserve on campus: financial aid, credit for prior learning, etc.
Q: What's your favorite thing about being an NCAN member?
A: I love learning from others working in the network! I run a tiny organization, so I am always looking for folks to brainstorm and share approaches. NCAN members have been very open to connecting at the Conference and online.
Personality Questions
Every month, our MeMos will be answering some fun questions to help us get to know their “out of office” side!
Q: What's one thing you'd like to cross off your personal bucket list? Is there one thing you've crossed off already that you're really proud of?
A: I would like to visit Vietnam, where my family is from. I checked off running a marathon in 2023 and became addicted to running. I ran my third marathon this year in Chicago!
Q: What's your favorite food, and one food you don't like?
A: If I could, I would subsist on spicy nacho Doritos. I refuse to eat mushrooms.
Q: If you could immediately be fluent in one language AND proficiently play one instrument, which language and instrument would you choose and why?
A: I would like to be fluent in Vietnamese--I feel so ashamed of not being able to carry a full conversation with my family! I have always wanted to play the piano.
Q: What’s one topic, not related to education/college attainment, that you could give an impromptu 45-minute TED Talk about?
A: Fitness trends and gyms.