Congratulations to our September 2025 Member of the Month (MeMo) Richard Gonzalez! 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: I entered the college access field through the college admission
vine, where I saw firsthand how transformative higher education can be, especially for adult learners and nontraditional students. That experience sparked a deep commitment to helping others navigate their own educational journeys, particularly those
who may not see college as an immediate or obvious path.
Q: What do you love most about your role or organization? A: The opportunity to advocate for adult learners and help shape systems that recognize their unique needs and strengths. Every day, I get to work alongside
passionate colleagues who are committed to equity and access, and together we’re building pathways that make college more attainable for everyone, regardless of age or background.
Q: What's your favorite thing about being an NCAN member? A: The sense of community and shared purpose. NCAN brings together professionals from across the country who are all working toward the same goal: increasing
postsecondary access and success. The resources, collaboration, and thought leadership within NCAN continually inspire and inform my work.
Q: What advice do you have for people who are new to college attainment work A: Start by listening: to students, to communities, and to those who’ve been doing this work for a long time. College attainment
is not one-size-fits-all, and understanding the diverse experiences of learners is key. Stay curious, stay humble, and remember that progress often comes from small, consistent efforts that build trust and open doors.
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: What Women Want, the Mel Gibson movie where he can hear women’s thoughts. I genuinely
enjoy helping people, and being able to hear what others are thinking would open a whole new world of understanding and connection.
Q: You get to host a dinner party with five people, dead or alive, famous or not. Who are you hosting? A: I’d start the evening with two people who’ve shaped who I am: my grandmother and my biological father,
whom I only met once when I was 12. That reunion would mean the world to me. Then, for the rest of the night, my wife and I would relax and enjoy great conversation and music with Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez.
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’d love to formally learn salsa and bachata. I can dance,
but I want to sharpen those skills with real classes. As for something I’ve already checked off my list: I recently spent two weeks backpacking across Guatemala, which was both meaningful and unforgettable.
Q: Imagine you could teleport anywhere. Where would you go right now and why? A: I’d teleport to heaven to give my grandmother one more hug. She meant so much to me and lived to be 104, passing in 2023. On earth?
Spain. It’s at the top of my travel bucket list.
Q: What's your favorite food, and one food you don't like? A: Street tacos, especially sweet pork al pastor, are my favorite, simple, flavorful, and tied to great memories. I enjoy most foods, but sushi isn’t
for me, and I really can’t stand mustard.
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: Italian and guitar. Italian is a beautiful, expressive language,
and guitar just brings people together. With both, I could travel, connect, and entertain all at once.
Q: You HAVE to sing at karaoke. What song do you pick? A: Easy: “Rain Over Me” by Marc Anthony. It’s upbeat, it’s powerful, and it’s all about living life to the fullest.
Q: What’s one topic, not related to education/college attainment, that you could give an impromptu 45-minute TEDTalk about? A: I could easily talk for 45-minutes about generational poverty and how families build
resilience and legacy. I’ve lived it and seen how opportunity, determination, and sometimes unexpected miracles can change everything.
Q: What's on your to be read next list? A: I’ve collected several books over the years that colleagues and mentors have recommended. Up next is one that’s been sitting on my shelf for a while—The Mountain Is
You by Brianna Wiest.
Q: Is there a fun fact about yourself that you'd like to share that's not in these questions? A: Here’s one: My family escaped deep poverty thanks to my grandfather discovering buried treasure, yes, really!
My mom wasn’t born yet, but my grandma witnessed it all and told me the story. That story still feels like a fairytale passed down through generations. Ask me about it and I'll share.
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