Jesse (he/him) joined College Possible Texas (formerly College Forward) in November of 2021 after serving as the Director of College Persistence at KIPP Texas Public Schools. In Jesse’s role at KIPP, he led the implementation of the post-secondary success strategic plan at one of the largest KIPP public school charter management organizations in the nation serving 28 schools and 14,500 students.

Jesse comes with extensive experience in college access and college success at both secondary and post-secondary institutions. Prior to working at KIPP, Jesse was the Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs and Leadership Rice at Rice University. Prior to his tenure at Rice, Jesse was the Director of Enrichment Services at Columbia University in the City of New York. In both roles Jesse designed and implemented strategies around college retention, academic progress and success, and professional development for undergraduate students. In his downtime, Jesse enjoys spending time with his family and exploring the culinary scene in every city he visits.

Hannah oversees College Possible programming at Austin Community College. She obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology from The University of Texas at Austin (Hook 'em!) and went on to get an M.F.A. in writing and publishing from Emerson College. As a first-generation college student herself, Hannah is passionate about the College Possible mission. She started her career in higher education as an admissions counselor at Angelo State University before making the move to the College Possible Texas team. 

When Hannah isn't at work, she can be found with her nose in a book or daydreaming about writing novels in a cottage in the northeast.

Colleen possesses 20 years of experience leading nonprofits and businesses focused on education, music, entertainment, and sports. She was previously a Director of Operations for School of Rock’s international after school music franchise, a roller derby founder and the President of the nonprofit Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, and most recently a business consultant for nonprofits and small businesses. Colleen received a BA with Distinction from UW-Madison, and completed post-graduate work with Harvard Business School. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Colleen has lived in Austin since 2008 and enjoys long walks with her dog, live music, and exploring the backroads of Texas.

Czar is the AmeriCorps Recruitment and Operations Manager. As a first-generation college student, Czar is passionate about College Possible’s mission. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at St. Edward’s University. Czar previously served two AmeriCorps terms as a College Access Coach and enjoys creative and collaborative projects. In her free time, Czar is an avid reader and competitive pickleball player. Her goals are to return to school for a master’s degree in Social Work and to continue meaningful work in striving for education equity.

With more than 25 years working in education and non-profits, Rana Emerson joined the College Possible Texas team in October, 2022 after working at the George Gervin Academy Charter School in San Antonio as the Compliance Officer. At Gervin she ensured that the school followed state and federal education rules, and also presided over the launch of a P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) dual-credit academy.

Before returning to San Antonio in the summer of 2019 she spent 14 years as a resident of Brooklyn, New York where she was the Director of Education and College Pathways overseeing an after school literacy program for young women of color at the Lower Eastside Girls Club. Before that she was a College Now dual-credit program coordinator at the City University of New York.

In her spare time Rana writes and talks about race and representation, media, culture and society, especially television, film and music. Her writing has appeared in journals including Gender & Society, the American Journal of Sociology, the websites xoJane.com, Popmatters.com and in The Book of Jezebel. She also enjoys spending time with her family and being engaged with San Antonio community organizations including Lilith Fund, Magik Theatre and the San Antonio African American Community Archive.

Sarah has been an Advising Specialist on the Virtual Access Team since October. She graduated from Missouri State with a BS in Dance and BA in Global Studies. She spent 4 years in Austin, TX, and is now based in Cincinnati, OH. Her time with AmeriCorps at College Forward showed her how much she loves working with students on their post-secondary journeys. She loves that College Possible provides the support, encouragement, and resources that she wishes she had as a first gen, low-income student.

Zack has been an Advising Specialist on the Virtual Access Team since October. He is from Austin, Texas and currently resides in the area. He graduated from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Psychology. As a first generation student, Zack received assistance from College Forward that guided him through his post-secondary education journey from start to end. It was a full circle moment when he was able to work with and serve students who were just like him at College Forward as a Lead College Access Coach. Now with College Possible, he looks forward to continuing to help students realize their potential.

Melody has been an Advising Specialist on the Virtual Access Team since October. She is originally from Virginia and relocated to Lubbock, Texas in July. She hopes to be a permanent College Advisor. After undergrad, Melody served as an AmeriCorps College Advisor with the University of Virginia and loved it. She also has experience as a tutor and an undergraduate admissions reader. She likes being a part of a team that works to make higher education more equitable.

Kara is a Program Manager with the Virtual Access Team. She has worked at College Possible since 2019 when she spent two years as an AmeriCorps coach. Kara has a Master’s in Social Work and is passionate about the way education can change first-gen and low-income students’ futures. She loves supporting Advising Specialists and the way it allows her to help more students than she could serve on her own.

Erika Mince, originally from Round Rock, Texas, is a former student of College Forward and currently serves as a College Access Program Manager. She received a Bachelor's degree in Child and Family Services and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Abilene Christian University. Erika has worked in higher education for the past four years. In her free time, she enjoys sitting in coffee shops, live music, reading and writing creative short fiction.

Angel Pittman is the Development Director at College Possible Texas, bringing over 25 years of expertise in nonprofit leadership and fundraising. A proud graduate of Baylor University, Angel is passionate about continuous learning and professional growth.

Angel’s career began in the classroom, where she honed her skills in teaching before transitioning to nonprofit program and curriculum development. She spent 15 years as Vice President at Touching Miami with Love, where her visionary leadership and strategic fundraising efforts were pivotal in driving the organization’s expansion. Known for her ability to build strong, impactful collaborations with diverse stakeholders, Angel has consistently demonstrated a commitment to empowering communities and creating lasting change.

Outside of her professional life, Angel enjoys reading, stand-up comedy, crafting, and cherishing time with her family.

Dafne Rojas is an Senior Program Manager for Success. She was a first generation student in the program throughout high school and college, and served as an AmeriCorps Success coach. She studied Public Relations with a minor in Leadership of Communities and Nonprofits at the University of North Texas. Her professional background centers around educational equity, community care, and social work. She spent a year serving as an AmeriCorps City Year Coach on a middle school campus in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Before joining College Possible, Dafne worked at the SAFE Alliance as a Behavior and Education Specialist in a residential school for youths and families in emergency shelters in Austin, TX. She is passionate about trauma informed care and access to education.

Outside of work, Dafne is an avid book reader and gamer. She takes a lot of pride for her culture, identity, and family. Adventuring with her dog is one of her favorite pass times.

Mandy Thaner is the Program Manager that oversees the Texas State programming.  She obtained her Bachelors in Social Work with a minor in Psychology from the University of North Texas. Prior to graduating, she accepted her first full time position with a North Texas nonprofit running a dropout prevention program in Title I Schools. Her four years of service involved working directly with students implementing and coordinating services that assisted them in meeting their academic, social, and basic needs.  Over the last five years, Mandy ventured into other various avenues of assistance including healthcare consulting and business management. Full circle back in the nonprofit industry, Mandy is ecstatic to be back in the realm of work she is most passionate about.

Outside of work, you can find Mandy enjoying live music, venturing around a market, nose deep in a book, or snuggling her best pup Winnie watching a favorite show. Born and raised in Dallas, TX, she's never been happier to officially call herself an Austin resident.

Benjie serves as the College Access Program Manager for our AISD partnerships. He is originally from Abilene, Texas, and graduated from Lubbock Christian University majoring in Religious Studies before completing his Master's of Science in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University. Professionally, he has experience in non-profits, kayak eco-tourism, and as a Middle School English Teacher and Basketball Coach.  Beyond his professional pursuits, Benjie enjoys hanging out with his family, exploring Austin's green spaces, and reading.

With nearly a decade of professional education experience, Michelle has a passion for empowering students to reach their best educational outcomes. Michelle has been a middle school English language arts and reading teacher, served two terms in AmeriCorps as a K-2 literacy tutor with Literacy First, and spent a year providing reading and writing instructional support to high school students. She is currently enrolled at the University of North Texas, pursuing a master’s degree in information science, and earned a B.A. in English from UT Austin. 

Raised in Kyle, Texas by way of Barnesville, Georgia, Michelle enjoys reading, early morning cuddles with her cats, and Pilates.