Congratulations to our December 2025 Member of the Month (MeMo) Jose Jimenez! 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.
Title and Organization: Director of College Access, San Francisco & Silicon Valley at 10,000 Degrees
Professional Questions
Q: What brought you to the college access and success field initially? A: The academic success I had was thanks to the support I received
from 10,000 Degrees. My parents arrived in this country with nothing and sacrificed so much so that my sister and I could get an education. But being a first-gen student, I didn't have access to the tools and information I needed to apply to college.
I was told by my high school counselor that college was “not for me.” But after connecting with 10,000 Degrees as a student, they provided me with everything I needed to envision myself attending and graduating from college. With a lot of hard work
and the support of my 10,000 Degrees Fellow who helped me access free financial aid, and apply for the 10,000 Degrees and other scholarships, one of my proudest achievements is graduating from UC Davis with a double major in sociology with an emphasis
in law and society & Chicano/a studies. Now, I have the opportunity and privilege to share the tools and resources I received with the students we serve at 10,000 Degrees.
Q: What do you love most about your role or organization? A: Being able to support students who envision themselves attending and graduating from college. Oftentimes, the students we work with have limited access
to resources or don't have someone supporting their academic goals. I enjoy debunking college myths and showing them the possibility and importance of a college education.
Q: What's your favorite thing about being an NCAN member? A: I enjoy having access to the resources and trainings they provide to educators. Additionally, I have enjoyed participating in the NCAN Financial Aid
Expert Group and learning new best practices and strategies from other community members.
Q: What advice do you have for people who are new to college attainment work? A: Be open to collaborating with others. I have
found value in working with other individuals, both at 10,000 Degrees and other community based organizations. It takes a village to support students to achieve their academic goals.
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: I would want to be on Survivor! Since I was introduced to the show when I was in middle school
and being part of the Boy Scouts of America (Scouting America), I pictured myself being on the show and winning! 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: To
be able to wear the mascot suit for the San Francisco Giants, which is Lou Seal. I have been able to cross off being on a radio show. I was fortunate enough to be on one of my friends' radio shows multiple times! Q: Imagine you could teleport anywhere. Where would you go right now and why? A: I
would teleport to when I was in high school. I’d let my younger self know all the adventures and places I have gone! And I’d tell myself that I am college-bound and that I will be the first in my family to graduate from high school and college, despite
what others are telling me. Q: What's your favorite food, and one food you don't like? A: My favorite food is my mom’s cheese enchiladas! I do not like papayas. 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: Learn
how to speak Vietnamese to support our Vietnamese students and families. I would like to play the accordion so I can play music during family gatherings.
Q: What’s one topic, not related to education/college attainment, that you could give an impromptu 45 minute TEDTalk about? A: Home
garden irrigation systems because while I was growing up, I would help my dad install irrigation systems.
Q: What's on your to be read next list? A: Ride of A Life Time by Bob Iger.
Q: What advice do you have for people who are new to college attainment work? A: Be
open to collaborating with others. I have found value in working with other individuals, both at 10,000 Degrees and other CBOs. It takes a village to support students to achieve their academic goals.
Q: Is there a fun fact about yourself that you'd like to share that's not in these questions? A: I
am an Eagle Scout!
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