Congratulations to our August 2024 Member of the Month (MeMo) Michael Cheever! National College Attainment Network (NCAN) staff asked him both professional and personal questions so you can get to know him and the work he does better.
Q: What brought you to the college access and success field initially? A: As far back as I can remember, I have wanted to give back and to help
others, believing that unity is our greatest source of strength. Being the first in my family to graduate from college, I have experienced first-hand the transformative power an education provides. I also believe that everyone should have access to
two life essentials: healthcare and education.
If you place my personal experience, beliefs, and values on a list or in a Venn diagram, you could easily appreciate how I cannot think of a greater sense of purpose and more enduring way to create a positive change and impact than helping students achieve
their academic dreams and life aspirations.
Q: What do you love most about your role or organization? A: I love my job as I get to bridge the best of two worlds. On one hand, I get to work day in and day out with some of the most talented, dedicated, committed
and knowledgeable colleagues on the planet. Their tireless effort and determination is a true inspiration.
On the other hand, I get to directly partner with CBOs, government agencies, and philanthropists who want to leverage their skills, capacity, and resources to drive systemic change and create access and opportunities for students.
It is a blessing in life to have a career supporting something you love coupled with the opportunity to collaborate with individuals and organizations who have shared values and goals.
Q: What's your favorite thing about being an NCAN member? A: I love NCAN as I believe it brings great value to our work and to each of its members. NCAN is a force multiplier, leveraging our combined effort, the
strengths, and resources of each member. There is a great culture of encouragement and guidance in the NCAN collective, one that is built on partnerships and support, not on competition. NCAN has significantly moved the dial over the past several
years, has grown considerably, and has fostered a tremendous national collective.
NCAN meets you and your organization where you are today, large or small. There are countless opportunities to connect, learn and share best practices.
I also greatly appreciate NCAN’s role in national advocacy. Having a captain at the helm guiding our collective efforts and representing our work and desires is invaluable in so many ways.
Personality Questions
Every month, our MeMos will be answering some fun questions to help us get to know their “out of office” side!
Q: You get to host a dinner party with five people, dead or alive, famous or not. Who are you hosting? A: Charles Dickens, Isaac Asimov, Charles Darwin, Barack Obama, and David Sedaris to help lighten the
mood.
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 still want to scuba dive in the Galapagos and have a goal to
visit all seven continents. A few years ago, four of us hiked the classic Inca Trail enroute to Machu Picchu. Not only were we 14,000 feet up at one point, entering Sun Gate as the sun rises after several days of challenging trail hiking was an incredible
experience.
Q: Imagine you could teleport anywhere. Where would you go right now and why? A: To the International Space Station or to the moon. What an incredible view and experience it would to remind us how much more is out
there.
Q: What's your favorite food, and one food you don't like? A: I eat too many Cheez-its. Beets are a vile weed and should be banished from the earth 😊 I do love seared ahi tuna!
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