Congratulations to our September 2024 Member of the Month (MeMo) Caitlyn Cole! 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: Caitlyn Cole (she/her)
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Alma Mater: St. Mary's University of Minnesota
Title and Organization: Director of Career and College Readiness at Achieve Twin Cities
Professional Questions
Q: What brought you to the college access and success field initially? A: I was the first in my family to graduate college and there were so many moments where I felt like I was flying by the seat of my pants.
Some of those experiences were important growth moments (and a lot of fun), and others were just unnecessary stress that could have been avoided had I had a person or a program guiding me. After I graduated and learned that I could build in a career
in supporting students in finding their best fit postsecondary pathway, things crystalized for me and I've been working and learning in this field ever since.
Q: What do you love most about your role or organization? A: I love that our CCR services are available to all students in our partner high schools while keeping focus on our young people with the most barriers.
My team of passionate, youth-centered professionals is how we're able to offer such broad support. We all had different journeys in finding our way to career and college readiness work and our unique experiences directly inform our value of honoring
our students' unique journeys. We are constantly learning from each other, laughing together, and lifting each other up when challenges feel insurmountable. Our team is who I wish I had when I was in high school.
Q: What's your favorite thing about being an NCAN member? A: The postsecondary access and success world is ever-evolving so having NCAN as a trusted source for updated information and resources allows my staff
and I to stay focused on the day-to-day work with our young people instead of having to do all that research on our own.
Personality Questions
Every month, our MeMos will be answering some fun questions to help us get to know their “out of office” side!
Q: If you were dropped into any movie or TV show as a new main character, what movie or TV show would you pick and why? A: Ted Lasso, I love soccer and the community it brings together.
Q: Imagine you could teleport anywhere. Where would you go right now and why? A: I think I'd teleport to New York City, my best friend lives there and I haven't had the chance to see her for a couple years.
Q: What's your favorite food, and one food you don't like? A: My favorite food is strawberries; my least favorite is olives.
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