By Karina Delgado, Communications Intern, Catherine Brown, Senior Policy and Advocacy Director, and Louisa Woodhouse, Senior Policy Associate
Reading time: 10 minutes
The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) is pleased to announce the members of its 2025-26 Policy Council. The Policy Council is composed of state policy and advocacy leaders from NCAN member organizations who are working to advance equal opportunity
for all and affordability in postsecondary education.
The Council meets monthly to discuss policy issues and strategy, share ideas, resources, and tools. Members serve as thought leaders for NCAN, advising on the organization’s federal state policy agendas, strategy, and research products. They also surface
issues that arise for students and families their organizations’ service, which may require federal action. In exchange for participation, NCAN provides members of the Policy Council with a scholarship to its National Conference, advance information
about grant programs, and presentations and conversations with researchers and thought leaders in the higher education policy field.
The Council plays an integral role in NCAN’s policy and advocacy work, helping to keep the organization deeply connected to the needs of students and families as we work to advance policy changes that promote equal opportunity for all and student success
in postsecondary access and attainment.
Samantha Alcalá, Assistant Director of Partnerships and Advocacy, oversees a portfolio of career fluency partners, providing strategic support to enhance their college and career readiness programming. Alcalá focuses on strengthening postsecondary initiatives
and expanding the organization’s advocacy efforts.
Alcalá has primarily worked in education nonprofits focused on the postsecondary readiness and access of youth of color. This includes roles as a Program Consultant for CARA’s (College Access: Research and Action’s) Youth Leader training, Program Manager
for iMentor’s mentoring program, and Teaching Fellow for Citizen Schools’ extended learning day program.
Angela Bugayong is Chief Operating Officer at SRA where she drives the organization’s mission
to support first-generation students in achieving their college and career goals. Previously, Bugayong served as SRA’s Interim CEO, Chief Program Officer, and Senior Director of Program Strategy, where she led the development of student programs,
data-driven strategies, and organizational infrastructure to enhance impact.
Before joining SRA, Bugayong was Associate Director of the Access Learning Lab at the College Board, where she led the development of a data-enhanced advising
tool supporting 1,600 high school students. Prior to that, she managed complex programs and partnerships at a nonprofit focused on college access and success for students in Washington, DC’s Wards seven and eight, driving significant outcomes.
Michael Cheever is the Executive Vice President of CSF, a nonprofit working in Washington state and Washington, DC, to inspire youth that are underserved and from low-income backgrounds to finish high school, graduate from college, and be transformational
leaders in society. Being the first in his family to graduate from college, he is passionate about helping to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty through education.
CSF has supported over 12,000 students to graduate from college, has a staff of nearly 200 employees operating across multiple regional sites, and supports students on over 150 college campuses nationwide.
Yvonne Eype is Chief Executive Director of UFCS which provides college enrollment support for economically disadvantaged students in Texas. Eype brings over 15 years of experience in education, workforce development, and nonprofit leadership. At UFCS,
she has advanced data-driven, collaborative approaches that strengthen the education-to-career pipeline, improve advising systems, and inform policy change, reaching more than 35,000 students each year across Texas. She has been honored by the Fort
Bend Chamber of Commerce and The George Foundation as part of the Excellence for Nonprofit Leadership. Prior to joining UFCS, Eype worked as Director of Special Projects for GRADify Go and Program Manager at KIPP Houston Public Schools. Earlier in
her career, she served as a speech and debate director and public school teacher in Texas.
Sarah Foster analyzes Florida education policy with an emphasis on college access, readiness, and workforce initiatives for FCAN. She is focused on legislative efforts that support Florida's SAIL to 60 goal, and how the education sector can be a partner
to achieve Florida's economic objectives. Her previous experience working with local and state governments supports FCAN’s mission to expand college access and support student success statewide.
Foster holds a bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida in International Studies and credits internship experiences to shaping her career path. Foster is working towards earning Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
Jesse Hendrix serves as the Executive Director of College Possible Texas, a vital part of the nationally recognized College Possible network, dedicated to empowering students through near-peer coaching. Under his leadership, College Possible Texas has
become a cornerstone in the Texas community, supporting over 5,500 students annually in their pursuit and completion of postsecondary education. Through targeted interventions and personalized coaching, Hendrix and his team are breaking down barriers
to college access and success for underserved students, helping to build a more equitable future.
Hendrix has led transformative strategic planning initiatives focused on retention, persistence, and academic progress at both secondary and post-secondary institutions.
Olani LaBeaud is the Public Policy and Advocacy Specialist for BLU Educational Foundation, a nonprofit located in California’s Inland Empire, whose mission is to provide educational and human services programming to youth, adults, and organizations to
build healthy, productive communities.
In her organizational role, LaBeaud analyzes education policy in the inland region and state of California in efforts to educate the community on the advocacy methods and the importance of civic engagement. LaBeaud is a passionate social justice advocate
personally and professionally, where she provides education, tools, resources, and direct support to address the systemic barriers regarding college access, affordability, and racial equity.
Cyekeia Lee oversees college access support for over 50 high schools in Detroit (MI) as DCAN’s Executive Director. In this role, she brings together school districts, community-based organizations, and workforce partners to make postsecondary pathways
a reality for all students. Previously, she was the director of community collaboration for The Kalamazoo Promise, an award-winning initiative that provides up to one hundred percent of tuition and fees for students from Kalamazoo Public Schools at
any in-state public community college or university, and director of the Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo. Earlier in her career, Lee served as Director of Higher Education Initiatives for NAEHCY, the National Association for the Education of
Homeless Children and Youth. Lee started her career as a financial aid administrator.
Marcos Montes Policy Director and Let’s Go Program Manager SoCalCAN
Marcos Montes manages SoCal CAN’s (Southern California College Access Network’s) policy agenda, Changemakers Student Advocacy Fellowship, and Let’s Go to College CA. Montes brings a wealth of knowledge around student engagement and student advocacy. With
SoCal CAN, Montes represents the network in various state and federal policy coalitions. He has led the network's support of dozens of bills successfully signed into law including SoCalCAN's co-sponsored legislation to ban scholarship displacement
in California, reform Satisfactory Academic Progress policies, and extend California's priority financial aid deadline due the faulty rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Kim Nauer directs the Higher Education Affordability Project at the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School (New York, NY) and is the founder of UnderstandingFAFSA.org, a web site focused on helping first-generation
students and their counselors navigate the FAFSA and financial aid system. Nauer and her student team use design and applied research to develop friendly guides and curriculum materials that strive to explain financial aid in a simple way. Prior to
her work on the website, Nauer founded the Center's New York City public education research initiative and published groundbreaking work on chronic absenteeism, school poverty impacts, district management, and college access initiatives.
Bob Obrohta is an expert in college access and success for first-generation/low-income students. His 35-year career spans being a practitioner for thousands of students directly, as well as designing numerous scholarships and access programs for colleges,
organizations, and communities across the country.
Obrohta began in college admissions and financial aid at Beloit College (WI) and ran Beloit’s TRIO Upward Bound program. In Tennessee, his career spans leading the Ayers Foundation Scholars Program, and founding both Oasis College Connection (Nashville),
and the Tennessee College Access and Success Network. His commitment to access has helped bring numerous federal, state, and corporate resources to Tennessee communities.
A low-income/first-gen student himself, Obrohta is a recipient of NCAN's Executive Leadership Award of Excellence.
Dr. Marie Roberts is an education professional with expertise in enrollment, student success, and technology. In her role at Woodward Hines Education Foundation, she drives higher education access and attainment in her home state of Mississippi through
strategic communications. Dr. Roberts is passionate about partnership pathways, educational storytelling, and convening groups working to improve education.
Carolina Rodriguez is the director of EDCAP, a program that helps student loan debt borrowers in New York state. Prior to this position, Rodriguez was the Associate Supervising Attorney of the Health Initiatives Department at the Community Service Society,
where she oversaw a statewide network of community-based organizations and small businesses counseling consumers on health insurance and health care access issues. She also managed the largest health insurance enrollment network in New York state.
Perla Rodriguez is a lifelong educator, reader, and writer, currently serving as the Senior Director for Education Programs at the Hispanic Federation, the nation’s premier Latino nonprofit membership organization. With decades of experience in education
and community development, Rodríguez is dedicated to empowering Latino communities through innovative educational initiatives. As the Senior Director for Education Programs at the Hispanic Federation, she leads a team committed to enhancing educational
opportunities and outcomes for underserved populations.
Rodriguez has successfully launched and managed numerous programs that address educational disparities and promote equity. Her passion for education is matched by her commitment to fostering inclusive environments where all students can thrive.
Chandra C. Scott is the Executive Director of Alabama Possible, a nonprofit based in Birmingham, AL, focused on increasing postsecondary access and addressing poverty through advocacy, education, and collaboration. She leads statewide networks including
the Alabama College Attainment Network, and oversees the Alabama Goes to College Campaign to boost FAFSA completion and enrollment. Prior to joining Alabama Possible, Scott served as the Director of Strategic Outcomes for the Mobile Area Education
Foundation in Mobile, AL, where she developed and led the state’s first post-secondary attainment goal and blueprint collaborative.
Currently she serves as the board chair for the Alabama Association of Nonprofits, as a board member for the A+ Education Partnership and NCAN; as a task force member for the Alabama School Readiness Alliance, Alabama Coalition for Community Benefits,
the Bold Goals Policy Committee. Scott has also been appointed by the Governor to serve on the CTE Course of Study Committee (2021), Alabama Postsecondary Mathematics Task Force (2023), and the Alabama Workforce Board (2024) and featured by Lumina
Foundation, IHEP, Higher Learning Advocates, AL.com, uAspire, and NCAN for her advocacy accomplishments.
As Vice President, Policy, Schooley develops and leads Achieve Atlanta’s policy and advocacy functions, shaping the organization’s approach to influence systemic changes that advance postsecondary enrollment, student success, and upward mobility. Previously,
she built the organization’s College Access and Scholarship and Affordability programs, partnering internally and externally to support Atlanta (GA) students to pursue their college aspirations. Prior to Achieve Atlanta, Schooley served as Director
of School Governance and Flexibility with Fulton County (GA) Schools, Georgia Afterschool Investment Council’s first Policy and Advocacy Manager, and as Chief of Staff for Massachusetts State Representative Alice K. Wolf.
Chuck Tiernan has 25 years’ experience in non-profit education leadership, designing and implementing strategies for community and resource development. He joined CFTB in 2016 to lead LEAP Tampa Bay College Access Network, a collaboration of 70+ community
partners helping more people attain education and training credentials after high school. Under his leadership, the network was recognized by Lumina Foundation in Indiana as one of just 26 “Talent Hubs” nationwide and in 2021 was named NCAN’s Member
of the Year. Tiernan’s role has now broadened to connect the Tampa Bay (FL) region to all CFTB’s impact areas, which include college access, affordability, and attainment, as well as early learning and digital inclusion, among others.
Anika Van Eaton Vice President of Public Policy uAspire
Anika Van Eaton is Vice President of Policy for uAspire. In this role, she leads uAspire's policy team, providing strategic direction for policy advocacy in California, Massachusetts, and New York, and driving federal policy programs and advocacy goals.
Van Eaton has been with uAspire since 2020, when she started as Massachusetts Policy Director.
Before joining uAspire, Van Eaton was research manager for the Boston Private Industry Council, the city's workforce development board, where she researched and wrote college completion studies, as well as managed and analyzed student data to inform program
design and policy for high school and college completion initiatives.
As Director of Policy and Advocacy for Educate Texas, Warren identifies and advocates for evidence-based policy solutions related to educator effectiveness, college and career readiness, and reforms passed in the last legislative session. She also helps
coordinate the Teaching and Learning Council which convenes practitioners and a focused group of diverse stakeholders committed to improving the public education system in Texas.
As a critical member of College Now Greater Cleveland’s executive team, Kittie Warshawsky plays a critical role in guiding efforts to increase and further all levels of postsecondary educational attainment to further grow talent pipeline. She leads a
team working closely with CEO, CFO, and CIO to ensure highest standards of financial stewardship, transparency, and excellent governance resulting in organization’s earning a coveted four-star rating from Charity Navigator for the last ten years.
Warshawsky works directly with College Now’s 55-person board and staffs three committees: impact (advocacy), executive, and governance. She has worked closely and successfully with colleagues to lead funding efforts for the online mentoring program, which
now pairs 1,700 scholarship recipients with 1,700 volunteers, expands an adult learner program, establishes multiple scholarship funds, and creates new funding streams across all service lines.
Williams runs a data-informed collective impact movement co-led by young people and education professionals to move to equitable education pathways and opportunities in New York (NY). She represents Goddard Riverside in numerous professional organizations
and coalitions working to strengthen school counseling and improve access to higher education and pathways to success. She also serves on the Steering Committee of the New York State Poor People’s Campaign, as well as on its Regional Coordinating
and Faith Committees, where she organizes moral fusion direct action against systemic racism, poverty, militarism, and ecological devastation.
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Samantha Alcalá
Angela Bugayong
Michael Cheever
Yvonne Eype
Sarah Foster
Jesse Hendrix
Olani LeBeaud
Cyekeia Lee
Marcos Montes
Kim Nauer
Bob Obrohta
Dr. Marie Roberts
Carolina Rodriguez
Perla Rodríguez
Chandra C. Scott
Korynn Schooley
Chuck Tiernan
Anika Van Eaton
Joanna Warren
Kittie Warshawsky
LaKisha N. Williams