Born in Portland into an immigrant family, John personally understands the generational impact that families experience through education. For the past two decades, he has led student success programs and workforce-education partnerships for businesses, foundations, and nonprofits throughout the state, more recently directing college scholarships and community grant initiatives across all 36 Oregon counties.

A strategic visionary and champion of the underserved, John is passionate about equity in education. He thrives on building community and philanthropic partnerships, believing they are essential to creating pathways for college and career success.

John holds business degrees from the University of Oregon and Portland State University, along with graduate executive training in development from Boston University. When not dreaming of ways to tap the potential of the next generation, you’ll find him cheering for his kids in their sports or enjoying a freshly brewed cup of coffee. If you bump into John, don’t be surprised if he buys you a cup and shares about the many lives being changed through College Possible.

Cari comes to College Possible from a career in higher education that included roles as an English instructor, advisor, academic coach, writing center director and student services director. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Learning Sciences at Clemson University, where she studies access and equity in higher education, with a focus on academic tracking as a social justice issue. Cari enjoys traveling with her husband, three adult children, and daughter-in-law, especially to destinations that let her indulge her interest in Disney entertainment and history. She enjoys running slowly, losing herself in movies, reading good books and getting to know her new hometown of Portland.

Deysi joined College Possible in 2018 after serving a year of service as an AmeriCorps member at Willamette Academy, a college access program in Salem, OR. As an immigrant, first-generation and student of color, Deysi experienced lots of challenges in accessing and completing college. Willamette Academy provided Deysi with the guidance and mentorship to feel empowered and resilient to achieve her goal of attending and graduating from Willamette University. Through her participation as a middle and high school student in a college access program, she saw the value and influence programs like this can have on students from underserved communities. This influenced her commitment to social justice and education equity. Deysi hopes that future generations know that they belong in higher education and that they can walk on campus with confidence since their identities and experiences are equally valued and important.

Phil is a recent Portland transplant originally from New York. Although he has lived in many cities across the United States over the last decade, he hopes to be able to call Portland home for many years to come. He has a B.A. in Philosophy and an M.A. in History, with a specialization in North African/Maghribi cultural history and a secondary specialization in Antebellum and Indigenous American history.

Phil began his professional life by volunteering for a term of service with AmeriCorps, via New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. He joined AmeriCorps after four years of college, but he grew more emotionally and professionally in two years with AmeriCorps than he had in his prior twenty-two years of life. Even after an additional five years in the non-profit sector and several subsequent years in education, he never lost sight of the impact that the AmeriCorps program had had on him. So he is thrilled to join College Possible as Navigate Program Manager, where he can once again work with AmeriCorps volunteers while also helping rural Oregonian students achieve their collegiate ambitions!

Outside of work, Phil can most likely be found playing guitar with other musicians or alone at the foot of his bed. You may also find him enjoying the outdoors with his fiancée and their dog. Or, on lazy days (which are more numerous than he cares to admit), you might find him playing his Nintendo or his PlayStation, or watching NBA basketball (Go Knicks).

Cassy is a graduate of the University of Portland, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in sociology. Cassy comes to us with professional experience as an Admissions Counselor of Diversity and Inclusion and Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Portland, where she worked to effectively recruit and retain students from underrepresented populations, plan and coordinate various student events, and manage relationships with college access partners and community-based organizations nationwide. Most recently, Cassy was the Manager of Partnerships for Education Pioneers. In this role, she established and fostered relationships with partner organizations to support high quality fellowship opportunities.

Yulissa comes from a first-generation, low-income background. Her parents are immigrants who came to Oregon in the '90s to start a better life for themselves and their children. Although not understanding English or the American culture, what they did understand is that education is the key to a better future. Yulissa is the oldest of four and growing up it was instilled in her, and her siblings, that they would go to college and graduate. This dream was not just her parent’s dream, it eventually became her dream. Being the oldest, Yulissa felt lost in the process and was unsure of how to do this. She got lucky in her junior year of high school. College Possible had expanded and was recruiting for its first cohort in Oregon. She quickly signed up and was accepted into the program. After joining, Yulissa had access to so much knowledge and resources. Thanks to College Possible, in 2019 Yulissa was able to become the first in her family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. This was a momentous year for her family; but it did not last long, in a good way, the following year, her younger sister also graduated with her bachelor’s degree. What was once a dream has now become a key milestone in her life. It is no longer something that they can only imagine but something that can actually become a reality and has now become normalized in her family. Yulissa can’t help but feel thankful for the impact that College Possible and other access programs have on families like hers. Her life trajectory and knowledge have greatly expanded and she is proud to be a bridge between the two worlds that she has been balancing in the United States.

Although Salvador was born in Portland, Oregon, his earliest memories of growing up took place in a small town in Michoacan, Mexico. Salvador returned to Portland at the age of seven without knowing English and embarked on the journey of public school in East Portland. At a young age, Salvador knew he wanted to go to college but did not know how to get there. In the spring of 2013, Salvador heard about College Possible recruiting for their first Oregon cohort and instantly knew that he needed to be a part of it.

Salvador attended Portland Community College where he earned his AAOT and then transferred to Western Oregon University where he earned his B.S. in Earth Science with a minor in Biology. While in college, Salvador volunteered and worked with organizations that focused on college access and success like Upward Bound, Greater Than and TRiO.

Upon graduating from college, Salvador moved to Philadelphia, PA to do a year of service with College Possible Philadelphia and then moved to New York City, NY to do another year of service at Great Oaks Charter School NYC.

Outside of College Possible, Salvador enjoys being outside and exploring the beauty of Oregon (rain or shine), catching up with friends over food or coffee, going to concerts, and training for local 10Ks and half-marathons.

Emma was born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas where she attended the University of Kansas earning degrees in English and American Studies, with a focus on Women and Gender Studies.

Emma has more than 15 years of nonprofit experience fundraising for arts education, children’s advocacy, and housing and homelessness before joining College Possible.

Access to higher education has never been more important, or more inaccessible than it is today. Emma is excited to connect with community members around a shared commitment to education equity and give donors the opportunity to make transformational impact in the lives of Oregon youth.

Emma is a member of ninety-nine girlfriends and serves on the board of OAASIS (Oregon Abuse Advocates and Survivors in Service). She lives in Southeast Portland with her husband, young son, cat, and three chickens.

Nicole is a first-generation college graduate who earned her bachelor’s degree at Western Washington University. She joined College Possible in 2014 because of her belief in the power of education and equitable opportunity for all students. She brings 10 years of nonprofit experience in fundraising, operations and communications. In her free time, Nicole coaches high school volleyball and loves to hike and explore the pacific northwest.

Zach joined the College Possible Oregon team as Career Pathways Manager in 2022. With a B.A. from Arizona State University and an MPA from Portland State University, Zach comes to this work after most recently coordinating a professional development program out of the Center for Public Service at Portland State that launches graduate students into public service careers in Oregon. Prior to that, Zach’s career ran the gamut in the education field—from teaching high school Spanish, to training English teachers in Nicaragua as a member of the Peace Corps, to managing student success and retention initiatives at the University of Houston. It is during his time in higher education that Zach was intimately introduced to many of the inequities and barriers to college-readiness that students from low-income and marginalized backgrounds face. Supporting College Possible’s mission that ultimately seeks to yield economic mobility, job satisfaction, and life-fulfillment for the students the organization serves is a true honor. Outside of the office, Zach can be found hiking, enjoying live music, or playing board games with friends.

Casey began her work with College Possible in the Program Coordinator position, working in both the Flagship and Navigate programs for three and a half years. She took on the role of director of programs in December 2023. 

As a first-generation college graduate from a low-income background, Casey is passionate about educational equity and believes education should be a right, not a privilege. Growing up in a small, rural community in the midwest, college was not acknowledged as an option for everyone. After earning her degree in English and Secondary Education, Casey taught for a year before joining AmeriCorps, where she served students in one of our College Possible partner high schools. Casey’s personal experience to and through college, along with her professional experience working in education continue to fuel Casey’s commitment to college access and education equity. 

Outside of work, Casey is proud to be the mother of two small children who challenge and inspire her daily. She enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest.

Andrew grew up in a low-income household and had little support navigating college and financial aid applications. After finding mentors to help him with the process, he graduated from the Metropolitan State University of Denver with a BA in English in 2004. Directly after college, he worked as a writing tutor and facilitator for spoken word workshops with youth. Over the next two decades he continued to work in community colleges and universities as a disability support specialist, academic advisor, counselor, and educator. He's passionate about making education more accessible, especially for historically marginalized communities.

Outside of his work at College Possible, Andrew helps program local film festivals, bakes, writes poetry, and spends time with his partner and their rescue dog, Felix.

With nearly two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector focusing on youth, women entering the workforce, and family homelessness, Bethany is passionate about access and equity in marginalized communities. Inspired by the mission of College Possible and the hope a college education can provide, she thrives on building relationships and championing social justice to better the lives of others. 

Bethany is a graduate of Western Washington University with a B.A. in Human Services, a degree that has opened doors for her to serve people with both empathy and advocacy. Outside of work she finds joy in snowboarding and camper van adventures with her husband and son.

Tuyen ("Twin") joined the College Possible Team in November 2021 as our Development and Administrative Associate. She is passionate about higher education, community-centric fundraising, and building relationships in the communities we serve. Tuyen grew up in Northeast Portland and returned to Portland after graduating from Colgate University with a major in English Literature and a minor in Rhetoric and Writing. During college, Tuyen had opportunities to work for a range of different nonprofits, including an environmental grassroots organization in upstate New York and a nonprofit for migrants and refugees' rights in Cape Town, South Africa. Tuyen credits many of the opportunities she had in college to the coaching and mentoring she was given as a College Possible student from 2015 to 2020. Outside of work, Tuyen loves to explore new restaurants and small businesses in Portland.

Clark Haass brings twenty-five years’ worth of marketing and business development experience to the Oregon Board. After working for Extended Systems for eight years, including serving as director of product marketing, he moved to Portland to work for Intel. For the past 22 years, Haass has been with Intel and is currently a Managing Director in Corporate Business Development. He is eager to bring his knowledge of strategic planning and marketing to the Oregon board. Haass received both a bachelor's and Master of Science in electrical engineering from the University of Wyoming and the University of Washington, respectively, and an MBA from Boise State University.

Northwest native, Thomas (Tommy) and his wife Kirsten are proud parents of their ten-year-old daughter, Quincey Elizabeth. To round out the family, the Bookman’s have a four-year-old Havaton named Piper.  When they are not busy being "managed" by Quincey, the Bookman’s enjoy local travel to visit family, everything outdoors and gatherings with friends.  In addition, Bookman is a proud graduate, and former student athlete of Oregon State University (class of 1994) and is the employee benefits practice leader with Group Physician Advisory Services (division of The Partners Group)  with over twenty-five years of industry related experience.

Karen Healey is a senior consultant at Slalom, an international consulting firm and focuses on building high performing teams. Previous to Slalom, Karen had a career in marketing, leading  marketing teams for organizations focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Her community work includes serving as a member of the education committee of 99 girlfriends (a women's giving collective) and serving on the board of Friends of Multnomah Public Library. Past volunteer experience includes volunteering with SMART as well as serving on the board of Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together local affiliates. In her spare time, you will find Karen reading, hiking or cooking (although not at the same time).

Anne Hoot is a Senior Vice President responsible for Corporate Development activities at The Standard. During her 25 year career at the company, she has performed a variety of roles, from actuary to leading the fixed income investment portfolio to heading up a personal finance start-up venture for the company. She began her career as an actuarial student in Dallas, Texas. Landing in Portland in the 80’s she has achieved the designation of Fellow, Society of Actuaries and is a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Dr. Sona Karentz Andrews is a Professor of Geography and Provost Emerita at Portland State University. She grew up in New England and has lived in Portland for ten years. Sona began her college studies at the Nishan Palanjian Armenian College in Beirut, Lebanon and completed her bachelor’s degree in geography from Worcester State College in Massachusetts. Her master's and Ph.D. are from Arizona State University (also in geography). Sona has held faculty appointments in Geography at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Boise State University, and Portland State University. She has held administrative appointments at a number of the universities, including served as Portland State University’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice Chancellor of the Oregon University System, and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Boise State. Sona also serves on the Portland Opera Board. Her previous board service includes Oregon Humanities, Planned Parenthood Willamette Valley, the City Club of Boise, Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership, and the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. Sona is bilingual (she speaks English and Armenian).

Erin serves as President of Quinn Thomas, a marketing communications and public affairs agency serving clients in healthcare, higher education and energy across the northwest. Erin’s expertise is in healthcare and technology communications and serves as strategic advisor to clients while also leading all aspects of the business. Erin comes to Quinn Thomas after many years in Washington, DC and London, where she was a communications professional for a key federal agency, global communications firm and a Fortune 100 company. Relocating to the Pacific Northwest, she was Director of Marketing and Brand Communications at Kaiser Permanente running integrated communications campaigns. Erin is passionate about volunteering and extending the Agency’s pro bono marketing and advocacy services to the community. Erin is a 2019 graduate of the Portland Business Alliance Leadership Portland Program and has a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Towson University in Maryland. She lives in Northwest Portland with her husband Steve and daughter, Cameron.

Sarah Mathenia is a long-time supporter of College Possible Oregon. As well as giving financially, Sarah has spent time with staff understanding and championing the College Possible model. Her interest in getting more involved on the board stems from her experience growing up. Daughter of a single mom, she was not financially privileged, but her mom’s dedication to her growth and the privilege of attending a good high school cleared Sarah’s path to college. She wants that opportunity for all students.

Sarah graduated from college and law school at University of California - Davis. She is a member of the bar in Oregon and Washington. With expertise in real estate and business law, she practices with GINN Group. She expects to bring career experience, practical business sense and industry partnerships to her board work and looks forward to working on the development committee.

Sarah balances her career with family time, currently juggling at-home learning for her two young children with her external obligations. She is fluent in Spanish and briefly owned a boutique which offered artisan-made clothing, jewelry and textiles from Central and South America and Mexico. If you have an interest in criminal and forensic psychology, you will find a curious partner in Sarah.

Agata Ramallo-Garcia leads integration of sustainable businesses practices for Nike, Inc. Her team supports business functions across the company in their sustainability strategies and efforts. Ramallo-Garcia also oversees strategic planning and annual business planning process, including business case development and financial valuation of sustainability, performance management of sustainability targets, predictive analytics and the development of tools to measure business impact of sustainability. Ramallo-Garcia, a 15-year Nike veteran was previously responsible for strategic planning, change management and program/project management at Nike in the US and Europe, managing various functions including corporate responsibility, supply chain, finance and information technology. Before joining Nike, she worked at IBM in The Netherlands.

Geneva Stegemoller is a Wealth Management Consultant with The Partners Group. She has been with The Partners Group for 10 years and in the industry for 24 years. Geneva is very passionate about helping young individuals find their career path by mentoring through The Partners Group mentoring program and as a “Big” with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Geneva came to Oregon 15 years ago by way of Kansas City, Missouri. Go Chiefs! She has three children, ages 25, 22, and 19. When she is not at work you can find her playing golf, wine tasting or in the kitchen cooking for family and friends.

Ken Thrasher, retired as chairman of the Board of Alternative Legal Solutions Inc. (dba Compli) in December 2018, and was its chairman and chief executive officer from 2002 through December 2009. Prior to joining Compli, Ken served 19 years in executive positions with Fred Meyer Inc., including serving as president and chief executive officer from 1999 to 2001, as executive vice president and chief administrative officer from 1997 to 1999, as senior vice president and chief financial officer from 1987 to 1997, and as vice president and treasurer from 1982 to 1987. In addition College Possible, Ken also serves on the boards of directors of NW Natural, The Jensen Quality Growth Fund, Children’s Public/Private Partnership, and is on the OSU College of Business Dean’s Council of Excellence. He is also a senior director on the Oregon Business Council. Prior to 2020, Ken served as a member of the board of directors for GSL Solutions Inc, Children’s Institute, Friends of the Children, Education Northwest, the Portland State University Foundation, the Cradle to Career Council of All Hands Raised, Albertina Kerr Centers, the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and is past chair of Oregon’s Quality Education Commission. Ken has a B.S. in business administration from Oregon State University and in 2012 was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Portland State University.

Amy joined Children’s Institute in 2019 as another step in a career of public service. She worked as a policy advisor in Portland City Hall and then as a youth programs coordinator in various schools across Portland. Amy’s current work at Children's Institute is focused on embedding community engagement practices into policy advocacy. She is grateful for all the students and families who have shared their lives with her, and in turn, she hopes to elevate their voices at the policy table. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton College in sociology and anthropology with a concentration in educational studies.

Interested in supporting College Possible’s mission and championing the next generation of community leaders? The ambassador board is a volunteer group of young professionals (around or under 40) who raise support and awareness for College Possible to help students in Oregon achieve their goals while advancing educational equity. Please contact Bethany Rocci at BRocci@CollegePossible.org or (971) 407-2975 to learn more, or check out a full description here.

Why I joined the ambassador board or why I’m invested in education equity...

I am a first-generation, low-income student. I remember the struggles I went through in college trying to figure out all the details from signing up for classes to fulfilling all requirements for graduation. I wish I had some help and being an international student didn't make it much easier. I hope to be able to help the next generation so they don't have to go through the struggles I went through. Education has always helped me better my future and College Possible's mission resonates with me. I wanted to be more involved than just volunteering and the ambassador board was perfect.

When I’m not volunteering, I love to…

I love sports and the outdoors. You can find me doing all kinds of activities such as hiking, biking, swimming, skiing, and playing tennis, hockey, and squash. I also enjoy reading, cooking, playing the piano, and learning French.

Erin has been learning, growing and teaching across Oregon since her youth. As a neurodivergent learner who struggled in the public school system, Erin consistently found refuge and learning in nature. Inspired and empowered by the beautiful complexity of the world around her, she began her professional journey in natural resources, an interest which grew into a deep passion for unpacking human relationships with the natural world and led her to an ever-evolving career as an educator. In all aspects of her life, Erin is deeply grounded in the importance of recognizing the ways in which dominant systems cause harm and believes in a restorative, community-centered approach to healing people and the planet. Erin finds joy and strength in family, friends, good books, overly-complex board games, time in nature, and hanging out with her horse Trillium.

Mick Harris is a business attorney at Tonkon Torp in Portland, Oregon. Mick's interests outside of work include writing, reading, podcasts, comedy, sailing, horology, fighting global warming and reveling in Portland's excellent restaurant scene.

Why I joined the Ambassador Board: I value the comprehensive work College Possible does to support students throughout their college journey. As a first-generation graduate, I want to continue to use my personal experience, financial expertise, and community connections to help more students successfully complete higher education.

When I'm not volunteering, I love to: I like to spend my time reading, listening to podcasts, traveling, wine tasting, visiting the Oregon Coast, going out to eat, and spending time with family.

A second-year student at the University of Southern California, majoring in Computer Engineering and Computer Science. I hope to become a robotics engineer, focusing on exoskeletons and wearable technologies. My hometown is in Gresham, Oregon. I love playing the flute and tennis, as well as singing and watching the sunsets. I joined College Possible to broaden my network and extend it beyond USC. I also understand that students can feel lost and intimidated by the idea of post-secondary education and my goal as a Student Board member is to help them through that journey just like those before me had helped me!

Anisa is currently a sophomore at Portland Community College, majoring in Psychology. She likes to go hiking, shopping, and working out during her free time. She usually rewards herself with one of these activities after completing an assignment.

Guadalupe is a first-year student at Oregon State University. She is currently exploring different career opportunities and plans on graduating in 2027. In her free time, she likes to go to the gym, read, and volunteer as much as she can.

Dania Khalid is part of the Class of 2026 at Princeton University. Although she is thinking of pursuing a degree in economics, she remains unsure about her post-graduation plans. Dania decided to join College Possible in her junior year of high school to seek support navigating the college application process, given her family's immigrant background. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis.

Tayma Miguel-Reyes, a junior at Portland State University, is on a dynamic journey toward her marketing degree, fueled by a determination to pave a path in the global entertainment and gaming industry, outside of the United States. Born and raised in Oregon to immigrant parents, Tayma is a first-generation Latina student whose background drives her commitment to empowering underrepresented communities and BIPOC individuals to access opportunities in post-secondary education. Tayma's dedication extends to her role as a college student board member, where she actively contributes to shaping events and initiatives benefiting the student body. Tayma's choice to enter higher education was not without its challenges, and she joined College Possible to navigate the complexities of the process. College Possible provided her with the invaluable support and guidance needed to overcome these challenges.

Beyond her academic endeavors and leadership role, Tayma enjoys a diverse set of hobbies, including reading, volunteering, and active participation in her sorority and on campus. Going through the rush process, she understands the importance of building a strong and supportive community.
During her spare time, Tayma finds joy in playing video games, exploring new restaurants, and planning trips with her friends. She also possesses a keen eye for photography, capturing meaningful moments.

Tayma's background, career aspirations, and dedication to empowering others make her an individual who is committed to making a positive impact in her community and beyond as she strives to take her talents and ambitions throughout her career.

Hello, my name is Hao Tran. I am currently a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience at Swarthmore College. After college, I am planning to go to medical school and become a psychiatrist. I was born in Vietnam and graduated from David Douglas High School as the class of 2022. My first year was definitely very challenging, exposing myself to a more rigorous environment compared to high school. I hope my involvement with the College Student Board will somehow take that away for upcoming first-year college students, and also create a sense of community and belonging among the current students just as College Possible and my coaches did for me in high school.