Dear College Possible Community,
It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Julie Mancini’s passing on Monday, Aug. 29 surrounded by her loving family.
Julie came to College Possible as the interim executive director in early 2015, and quickly took on the permanent role until her retirement in June 2020. It is without question the organization is where we are today thanks to her incredible leadership and gift for building community & programs. Over her tenure, we grew from serving 382 students to over 1,700, she increased the budget by over $1.5 Million and our staff by 122%. Many of you contributed to our mission because of Julie’s passion, commitment and quick wit to never take no for an answer.
While these numbers speak for themselves, they don’t quite capture Julie’s spirit and what she meant to our organization, our team and me personally. She had an innate ability to cultivate her team and empower them to think boldly and pursue their ideas. She was a fierce advocate for our students and their families and fought hard to ensure they had what they needed to succeed. Most importantly, she considered anyone who became involved with College Possible, part of the family, no matter how big or small your role, and no matter how much time has passed.
Julie dedicated her life to making our community better and we are so lucky to have been a small part of that. She was bold, irreverent in the best way, hilarious, and incredibly generous with her time and energy to develop the next generation of leaders. She had a special gift to help others see the best in themselves and believe it. She touched countless lives both personally and professionally and has left an enduring mark on our organization, the nonprofit community and our city. She was simply the best, and we will miss her dearly.
I have immense gratitude for you all and the amazing community Julie helped cultivate. We have already received an outpouring of support for our team here at College Possible Oregon and it means the world to us. We pass that love and support along to the Mancini and Bromka families as they grieve and celebrate the wonderful Julie Mancini. We love you!
Emielle Nischik
Executive Director
College Possible Oregon
