The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) is thrilled to announce its 2024 Advisory Task Force!
These are 25 leaders from across the country in various roles of college attainment, from direct student service in the secondary space to the corridors of higher education, and from nonprofit organizations to state agencies. NCAN created this space to
bring our members together monthly to share ideas, solve problems, and recognize trends.
Task Force members provide NCAN with real time knowledge of the conditions, obstacles, and victories our members are experiencing across the nation. Their feedback is used to identify, vet, and curate the most relevant resources and professional development
opportunities for all our members. We sincerely thank each of them for their dedication to students and the industry.
Jenae Anderson currently serves as a Site Coordinator with the University of Kansas GEAR UP, working with current seniors to plan their life post-graduation. She absolutely loves her career, and the students are the most hardworking and incredible individuals.
Besides her work, Anderson is a second-year graduate student at Indiana State University and will graduate in May 2024 with a master's in Student Affairs and Higher Education. Anderson enjoys taking cycling classes, walking her dog, shopping, baking,
and cooking new recipes.
Toni Blount is the Regional Impact Manager for myFutureNC in the Southeast Prosperity Zone of North Carolina. She provides support to local educational attainment collaboratives in 12 counties working on the 2 Million by 2030 NC Educational Attainment
Goal. She earned her bachelor’s and master of arts in education from East Carolina University and the Community College Leadership Certificate from University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Prior to working at myFutureNC, Blount served three school districts as the Coordinator of College Advising and Scholarships and two community colleges as a faculty member, liaison, and advisor. She serves on the NC ACT Council, NCAN Advisory Task Force,
and champions work on the FAFSA stage in state wide. While conducting career and college professional development webinars for school practitioners and college advisors, Blount presents alongside LeadershipNC, the Institute for Emerging Issues, and
ncIMPACT. She is committed to the North Carolina educational attainment goal and believes that with cross-sector community support, learners can reach their full potential by meeting educational and career goals.
Angela’s entire professional career has been focused on closing the degree divide, on education equity and making sure that students, especially students from marginalized communities, have access to similar
if not the same opportunities as their higher income peers. During her tenure at Students Rising Above, Bugayong was an NCAN Leading for Equity fellow in
the 2023 cohort. Before Students Rising Above, she successfully managed complex programs, initiatives and partnerships that had significant outcomes at a nonprofit focused on college access and success for students in Ward 7 & 8 in Washington,
D.C.
Bugayong’s mother immigrated to Los Angeles from the Philippines and joined the U.S. Airforce a year after her birth. Raised by her grandparents while her mother focused on her career, her family instilled in her the importance of
hard work and education. She has a master’s in education from the University of Phoenix and a nonprofit management executive certificate from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy and a bachelor’s in political science with a focus
in public administration from California State University - Los Angeles.
A Yakima, WA native, Alma Castillo is serving the very schools that she attended as a student! Castillo has a decade of experience in both higher education and K-12. She is deeply involved in postsecondary pathways, guiding students toward successful
educational journeys, and using data to make strategic changes in our school districts. Additionally, Castillo is honored to serve her second year on the NCAN Advising Task Force. Beyond her professional endeavors, you'll find her engrossed in a good
book, exploring the beauty of Washington state through hiking and cherishing moments with her two dogs, Lenny and Nari.
Rea Concepcion Coordinator of Curriculum and Instruction Reality Changers
Philippine-born, California-grown, Rea tries to relate her real-world and professional intercultural experiences to students. The shared viewpoints, along with her youthful energy, have helped her connect and engage with diverse students and families.
Prior to her current role at Reality Changers, Concepcion was an English language arts teacher and a foster youth mentor.
In encouraging students to think critically about intersectionality, systemic injustices, politics, challenge them
to write their truth, Concepcion has designed workshops on storytelling improve student academic writing, foster an appreciation for creative writing, strengthen their voices and personal stories, and bolster self-awareness and self-worth. She is
an alumna of Voices of Our Nation's Art Foundation, the only multi-genre workshop for writers of color. Concepcion writes coming-of-age fiction and creative non-fiction, mainly short stories, rooted in her Filipino culture.
Chaka Felder-McEntire, Ed.D., is the visionary founder of two impactful organizations,
Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Programs, Inc. and the
Connecticut College Access Network. These organizations reflect her unwavering commitment to increasing equal access and opportunity for minority, low-income, and first-generation students.
Through her leadership, these organizations have achieved remarkable milestones, having supported over 10,000 students in graduating from high school and enrolling in college. Notably, they have facilitated the acquisition of over $800 million in
scholarships, making higher education accessible to those who need it the most.
Julie Gamze-Elçinis a native of Chicago, IL but has lived in New Orleans, LA for the past 10 years.
During this time, she’s had the privilege of working with youth and adult English Language Learners towards their education and workforce goals. In her current role as the Escalera and Padres Comprometidos Program Manager with Puentes New Orleans,
Gamze-Elçin supports students and families throughout high school and in learning about and preparing for postsecondary education and career pathways.
Gamze-Elçin completed her undergraduate studies at Tulane University in Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American Studies, and she is a certified interpreter and translator. Through her involvement with the New Orleans College and Career Attainment Network,
she is connected with other youth workers, school staff, and professionals in postsecondary education and career attainment in support of young people across New Orleans.
Andrea Glenn is Arizona Department of Education’s (ADE) first Director of Postsecondary and Community Engagement, joining the team in June 2020. Prior to her work at ADE, Glenn began her work in the field of education upon graduating from Arizona State
University and then being accepted into Teach for America as a high school English teacher. She has over 17 years in education, 12 of them specifically helping first-generation students get to and through college. Glenn is excited to work at ADE in
her role and help bring schools, districts, and postsecondary organizations together to best support our pre-K through 20 students.
With a doctorate from the University of Utah and an MBA from Utah State University, Richard Gonzalez has dedicated his career to higher education. He proudly serves as the Assistant Commissioner for Access at the
Utah System of Higher Education, working to make education accessible to all. In addition, he also serves as board president for the Utah Jump$tart Coalition, a non-profit organization that advocates for general financial literacy education for K-12
youth.
The intersectionality of identities which include first-generation college student, low-income upbringing, son of immigrant parents, alternative high school graduate, and adult learner student inform his perspective as a higher education professional
and researcher. His research interests are mostly focused on adult learners and enrollment management practices. When not in the office, you can find Gonzalez in the great outdoors, fueling his love for camping and perfecting his yard. But his
true joy is grilling carne asada with family and friends, savoring those moments that truly matter.
Tyler Guenette serves as the chief of staff for the Michigan College Access Network. In this role, he works on the Executive Leadership team and assists all departments to provide support and thought partnership, and to identify opportunities that can
advance MCAN’s strategic plan.
Guenette is a proud first-generation college student, whose parents told him they expected him to go to college, even though they didn't know what that meant or entailed. Guenette received his bachelor's from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
his master’s from Michigan State University, and his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University.
As a Program Manager for DCAN, Ashley Lane-Barrett manages city-wide college access and success programming and supports all Detroit public
and charter school counselors and advisors. She also leads DCAN's Skilled Trades initiatives, ensuring college access professionals, students and families have knowledge and exposure to all postsecondary pathways.
Lane-Barrett is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and a recipient of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation scholarship. She currently serves as a Michigan ACT Council Member and is part of the inaugural cohort of the Change Collective,
a national leadership network that empowers and enables local changemakers to solve problems at the community level.
Sydney Matthes is the Chief Program Officer at Service to School, a non-profit supporting military members and veterans on their journey to and through higher education. Since 2011, she has worked in education on several sides of the desk, notably in
undergraduate admissions, as a school-based college counselor in the secondary school setting, and now supporting the efforts of a college access organization. Matthes gained her admissions experience as an assistant director of undergraduate admission
at George Washington University, where she also earned a master’s in higher education administration. As an instructor in the UCLA Extension college counseling certification program, she teaches courses covering inclusive college counseling and the
evolving college admissions landscape.
Shelby Miuzzo leverages her social work background in service to underrepresented students and families and promoting equitable higher education access and success. In her current role as Assistant Vice President College Planning and Outreach at Granite
Edvance, an education-focused nonprofit in New Hampshire, she leads a team of education and career counselors who provide free career and higher-education counseling and resources across the state. Miuzzo serves as the State Coordinator for New Hampshire’s
college application campaign, ApplyNH, and has a leadership role in a statewide FAFSA campaign. Previously, she was the director of college and career success at Big Brothers Big Sister of NYC. Miuzzo holds a bachelor’s in sociology and minor
in Hispanic studies from Boston College and a master's in social work from Fordham University.
Kayla Ritter Rickels serves as a Postsecondary Leadership Coach, working with district leaders and collective impact partners to develop postsecondary cultures of success for all students. With a set of values rooted in the belief that education is liberation,
she has dedicated her career to the creation of enabling conditions for equity in exploration, access, and attainment of a postsecondary credential. She began her career in college admissions and enrollment management and has moved through the college
access non-profit, K-12 school district, and education technology organization spaces that allowed her to drive impact and system change with a keen focus on equity for historically marginalized and minoritized students. She earned her doctorate of
education in educational leadership from Northern Kentucky University, her master’s of science in marketing from the University of Cincinnati, and her bachelor’s in mathematics from Thomas More College.
Mireya Sandoval Senior Director of Consulting uAspire
Mireya Sandoval has had a 12+ year career in the world of non-profit and administration. She is the Senior Director of Consulting at uAspire, a national non-profit that is looking to improve the economic mobility of underrepresented students by increasing
access to financial aid and postsecondary pathways. In this role, she is responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders while leading deep consultative engagements that result in customized recommendations.
Sandoval's cross-sector experience includes training, partnership management, work-based learning models, IT, and college student support. She has also held roles at El Paso Community College and YouthBuild USA, a national nonprofit organization serving
Opportunity Youth. Born and raised in El Paso, TX, she was the first in her family to attend and graduate college. She is an alumna of the University of Texas at El Paso and holds a bachelor’s in psychology.
Brett is the Managing Director of the Financial Aid division of EAB, a company that helps over 1,500 college and universities across the US recruit and retain students. Brett has worked
at EAB for nine years, but before that spent 20 years working for colleges recruiting students, often in underserved communities, most recently at Occidental College in Los Angeles. He has written several articles and blog posts on how to encourage
FAFSA submission and issues related to students’ ability to complete the FAFSA. For the Advisory Task Force, he hopes to bring the college/university perspective to the table to better connect students to resources they need to attend college.
Inspired by Maya Angelou, HerBrina Shepherd's mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with passion, compassion, humor, and style.
A woman of her word, filled with purpose, devotion and diligence, Shepherd looks for and creates opportunities to be of service to others. Her passion for education and literacy is evident through her community service and her work as a higher education
professional. She belongs to the Alpha Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and was recently elected to serve on the Maple Heights City School Board. She has also been a mentor and volunteer for College Now, True2U, and Cuyahoga County
Public Library. She is a three-time self-published children’s book author and has a voracious appetite for life.
As the Advancement and Communications Coordinator for the Virginia College Advising Corps, Blair Smith supports the organization's efforts to increase the number of first-generation, limited-income, and underrepresented students in Virginia who enter
and complete higher education. He previously served as a college adviser at a rural high school in Danville, VA through the Corps. As an advisor, he was recognized with the Laurie and Peter Grauer True North Award, given to one out of the national
College Advising Corps' more than 750 advisers across the country for excellence in service.
Smith graduated from the University of Virginia in 2021 with a major in Spanish and political and social thought. In college, he interned with Enseña Perú, an education-focused non-profit based in Lima, Peru, where he completed research on school-based
violence prevention strategies. He was awarded the John A. Herring Scholarship for Social Awareness, given each year to two UVA students who demonstrate leadership, citizenship, and fellowship. In his free time, he enjoys singing with The Washington
Chorus in Washington, DC.
Madison Smith oversees the TOPS College Success Program at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County. This program serves over 1,000 students at more than 60 colleges/universities across the country that graduated from the AVID program in Madison, WI. TOPS
students receive academic coaching, financial support, and connections to different on and off campus resources.
A Rochester, MN native, Smith graduated with my bachelor's in education from University of Wisconsin at Madison in 2017. After college, she went on to teach middle school for four years in Chicago Public Schools. When not working, you can find her training
for the Madison half marathon, playing with her three-year-old daughter and four-month-old son, or watching reality TV.
Len Smolburd began serving as Chief Programs Officer for the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara in October 2019. In his current role, he oversees scholarship and application operations, as well as the organization’s financial aid advising program.
A graduate of both California State University Fresno and National University, Smolburd began his career at Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco. He served initially as teen services director before being rapidly promoted and ultimately becoming director
of citywide services. As Director of Development from December 2013 to May 2016, Smolburd oversaw the organization’s extensive fundraising and volunteer operation. Immediately prior to joining the Scholarship Foundation, he served as a Grants Manager
at the Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County, where in addition to directing an annual grants program, he managed an annual college readiness resource fair, and developed a scholarship and mentorship program for foster care youth pursuing college
or vocational training.
A native of Jackson, MS, baseball was life growing up for Brian Thomas. He started his college journey at a local community college on a baseball
scholarship. After a year of college baseball, he gave it up and transferred to a large public university in Mississippi. Thomas then transferred his junior year to Belhaven University, a small, private, liberal arts college in Jackson. He didn’t
know my college “tour” would eventually aid in his college access work. He can tell students about the differences between a two-year college, a large, four-year university, and a small, liberal arts college. Prior to working with WHEF/Get2College,
Thomas had never touched a FAFSA. Now, he considers himself a FAFSA nerd and loves to geek-out with colleagues going over various scenarios they encounter. He still lives in Jackson with his wife and daughters, ages nine and five years old.
Inspired by her experiences as a first-generation college graduate, her upbringing in Queens, NY, and being raised by a Mexican
immigrant family, Leticia Vasquez channels her passion for and devotes her time to empowering young people and BIPOC professionals in the college access and higher education field. Her goal is that “as a collective we are able to tap into our highest
self and unshackle our potential, promise, and assets that have been systematically suppressed and oppressed for too long.”
During her free time, she serves on various college access and community-oriented boards, committees, and councils, locally and nationally. Vasquez received her bachelor’s from Hunter College and her master’s in higher and postsecondary education at Columbia
University’s Teachers College.
This year marks Keith’s 12th anniversary at Public Education Foundation in Chattanooga, TN and 20th year in the education field. His career includes positions at Kentucky’s Legislative Research Commission and Tufts
University School of Medicine. Keith's expertise lies in integrating strategic thinking with human learning and development theories to achieve effective and measurable solutions in actions, evaluations, partnerships, and business products.
He serves on the board of the Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies and is a member of the fifth cohort of the Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute. Keith earned his Ph.D. in education, with a focus on educational psychology, from Southern Illinois
University at Carbondale. Keith lives with his wife and three children in Sale Creek, TN, and will talk about vintage vinyl, guitars, and music with you for as long as you’d like.
LaToya Winkfield Senior Director Heights
Philadelphia
Dannetta Winters is a Petal, MS native working at the University of Southern Mississippi as the Director of Undergraduate Scholarships. She has a master’s in business administration and master’s in public
policy and administration, which both help her to develop University policies and procedures to overcome student barriers to postsecondary education and her institution to be innovative in recruitment and retention initiatives. In addition to managing
the university's institutional aid and ensuring equity in awarding practices, her office also oversees the University's financial literacy and wellness services. With her creation of the University's financial literacy program, she extends her research
and services to address poverty in the state through several community partnerships, workshops, and events.
Email to a Friend
Jenae Anderson
Toni Blount
Angela Bugayong
Alma Castillo
Chaka Felder-McEntire, Ed.D.
Julie Gamze-Elçin
Andrea Glenn
Richard Gonzalez
Tyler Guenette
Ashley Lane-Barrett
Sydney Matthes
Shelby Miuzzo
Kayla Ritter Rickels
Mireya Sandoval
Brett Schraeder
HerBrina Shepherd
Blair Smith
Madison Smith
Len Smolburd
Brian Thomas
Leticia Vasquez
Keith White
LaToya Winkfield
Dannetta Winters