COLLEGE READY AZ 2026 CONFERENCE:
FAFSA, PROMISE AND ACCESS

Arizona State University Memorial Union
Wednesday, September 9th

Due to popular demand, the 2026 College Ready AZ Conference is at capacity. If you are interested in attending, please join the waitlist and we will contact you if a spot becomes available

waitlist
Register for the conference
register for the resource fair
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Copper silhouette of the state of Arizona with the words Arizona Board of Regents with ASU, NAU and U of A listed under copper bar.
College Ready Logo in all black
fafsa challenge
AZ promise program
Arizona Department of Education logo
Tri-University Logo

COLLEGE READY AZ 2026 CONFERENCE:

FAFSA, PROMISE AND ACCESS

The 2026 College Ready AZ Conference: FAFSA, Promise and Access expands on the annual FAFSA Symposium that educators and counselors across Arizona look forward to each year. This year’s conference brings together Arizona and national experts to share practical strategies, timely updates and valuable connections focused on increasing college access and student success.

Agenda

  • Registration and Resource Fair
    • Location: Ventana A and B
  • Breakfast
    • Location: Ventana C

Plenary Agenda

Welcome Remarks

Chad Sampson, Executive Director, Arizona Board of Regents

Emcee Welcome

Lin Sue Flood, former anchor, KPNX-TV

Remarks from the Arizona Office of the Governor

Gov. Hobbs (invited)

Remarks from the Arizona Department of Education

Superintendent Tom Horne (invited)

Remarks from the Arizona Board of Regents

Regent Jimmy McCain

Special Speaker

Breanna M. Lietz, LMSW, MPA, Former Arizona foster youth and ASU Bridging Success alum
Updates:
  • Arizona Board of Regents
    • Julie Sainz, Director of FAFSA and College Access Initiatives
  • Arizona Department of Education
    • Linda Burrows, Deputy Associate Superintendent of Academic Standards

Panel discussion – “Closing the Gap: What FAFSA Completion Means for Arizona’s Students and Economy”

  • Luis Cordova, Senior Vice President and COO, Rounds Consulting Group
  • Andi Fourlis, EdD, Superintendent in Residence, Arizona Institute of Education and the Economy at Northern Arizona University; former Superintendent of Mesa Public Schools
  • Peter Granville, Senior Fellow, The Century Foundation
  • Caleb McKay, Senior Manager, FAFSA Completion, SchoolHouse Connection
Aliento helps immigrant students turn trauma into action by advocating for in-state tuition, scholarships, and one-on-one support. This session covers current resources for undocumented, DACA and mixed-status students and families, including financial aid and FAFSA guidance. Attendees will learn the financial aid resources available to undocumented students, and best practices for supporting undocumented, DACA, and mixed-status students and families.

Location: Pima

Presenter: Christian Munoz, Education Coordinator at Aliento 
This session offers a blueprint for aligning industry credentials, technical skill assessments and work-based learning under Arizona’s College and Career Readiness Indicators (CCRI). Attendees will learn practical strategies for evaluating industry credentials and scaling work-based learning to meet CCRI benchmarks and how to shift technical skill assessments from a compliance task to a valued milestone.

Location: Ventana B

Presenter: Melinda Villalovos, PV Schools College And Career Coordinator at Paradise Valley Unified School District
First Star at ASU shares how schools, child welfare agencies, caregivers and community and university partners collaborate to support foster youth through college and career planning. Attendees will learn the roles different partners play in supporting foster youth’s postsecondary success and partnership models that strengthen college and career readiness for these students.

Location: Santa Cruz

Presenter: Rachel Kist, Program Manager at Arizona State University- First Star ASU
This session explores how educators, advisors, families and community partners can build student success ecosystems that foster belonging and holistic support, especially for first-generation, immigrant and underserved students. Attendees will learn practical strategies for creating inclusive environments that build belonging and engagement and how to build collaborative support networks across departments and partners.

Location: Coconino

Presenter: Gordana Vincic, Adjunct Professor/ Certified School Social Worker at Paradise Valley Community College 
This session provides a timely update on Arizona mathematics education. Attendees will learn about key updates to Arizona’s math standards, including the Algebra 2 revisions and the new Integrated Statistics and Quantitative Reasoning (ISQR) course, and how to apply new fourth-year math guidance to build strong course pathways.

Location: La Paz

Presenters:Laurel Cherry, K-12 Math Specialist at the Arizona Department of Education and Eboney McKinney, Director of K12 Math and Ed Tech Standards at the Arizona Department of Education
This session equips access coaches to navigate major 2026 financial aid changes, including new loan caps, Pell Grant and scholarship rules, and Arizona’s Pell for Workforce rollout. Attendees will learn the key financial aid changes for 2026–27, and where to find resources to answer students’ questions.

Location: Ventana A

Presenter: Aurie Clifford, Assistant Director of Title IV Compliance at Pima Community College
In this session, ASU Preparatory Academy will share its repeatable, school-wide FAFSA completion system, covering milestone tracking, senior dashboards and family engagement. Attendees will learn practical strategies for increasing FAFSA completion, and how to track and adjust efforts to meet completion goals.

Location: Cochise

Presenter: Michelle Ugalde, Director of Student Advisement at ASU Preparatory Academy and Kristen Rund, Assistant Director of College Going Initiatives at ASU Preparatory Academy

Pipeline Connects shares how Arizona is building a statewide, connected ecosystem linking FAFSA completion, postsecondary planning, and career-connected learning. Attendees will learn how connecting FAFSA conversations to career relevance improves engagement and why introducing career and financial literacy earlier improves long-term postsecondary outcomes.

Location: Apache

Presenter: Jessica Howe, Director of My future AZ at Pipeline Connects 

This session offers a guide to financing college with minimal debt, covering Arizona-specific programs like Arizona Promise and Earn to Learn, along with scholarship deadlines and renewal criteria. Attendees will learn how to identify and categorize funding opportunities and how to navigate and manage the scholarship application process.

Location: Alumni Lounge

Presenter: Karla Gonzalez, Assistant Director of Scholarships and Outreach at Pima Community College and Alfred Chavez, Program Specialist in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Pima Community College

Location: Ventana C

Presenter: Peter Granville, Fellow at The Century Foundation
In this session, attendees will receive information about federal policies and specific programmatic support in Arizona for removing financial aid barriers for students experiencing homelessness.

Location: Union Stage

Presenters: Caleb McKay, Senior Manager, FAFSA Completion at SchoolHouse Connection and Rita Rodriguez, Homeless Education Program State Coordinator at the Arizona Department of Education 
Aliento helps immigrant students turn trauma into action by advocating for in-state tuition, scholarships, and one-on-one support. This session covers current resources for undocumented, DACA and mixed-status students and families, including financial aid and FAFSA guidance. Attendees will learn the financial aid resources available to undocumented students, and best practices for supporting undocumented, DACA, and mixed-status students and families.

Location: Pima

Presenter: Christian Munoz, Education Coordinator at Aliento 
This session offers a blueprint for aligning industry credentials, technical skill assessments and work-based learning under Arizona’s College and Career Readiness Indicators (CCRI). Attendees will learn practical strategies for evaluating industry credentials and scaling work-based learning to meet CCRI benchmarks and how to shift technical skill assessments from a compliance task to a valued milestone.

Location: Ventana B

Presenter: Melinda Villalovos, PV Schools College And Career Coordinator at Paradise Valley Unified School District
First Star at ASU shares how schools, child welfare agencies, caregivers and community and university partners collaborate to support foster youth through college and career planning. Attendees will learn the roles different partners play in supporting foster youth’s postsecondary success and partnership models that strengthen college and career readiness for these students.

Location: Santa Cruz

Presenter: Rachel Kist, Program Manager at Arizona State University- First Star ASU
This session explores how educators, advisors, families and community partners can build student success ecosystems that foster belonging and holistic support, especially for first-generation, immigrant and underserved students. Attendees will learn practical strategies for creating inclusive environments that build belonging and engagement and how to build collaborative support networks across departments and partners.

Location: Coconino

Presenter: Gordana Vincic, Adjunct Professor/ Certified School Social Worker at Paradise Valley Community College 
This session equips access coaches to navigate major 2026 financial aid changes, including new loan caps, Pell Grant and scholarship rules, and Arizona’s Pell for Workforce rollout. Attendees will learn the key financial aid changes for 2026–27, and where to find resources to answer students’ questions.

Location: Ventana A

Presenter: Aurie Clifford, Assistant Director of Title IV Compliance at Pima Community College
In this session, ASU Preparatory Academy will share its repeatable, school-wide FAFSA completion system, covering milestone tracking, senior dashboards and family engagement. Attendees will learn practical strategies for increasing FAFSA completion, and how to track and adjust efforts to meet completion goals.

Location: Cochise

Presenter: Michelle Ugalde, Director of Student Advisement at ASU Preparatory Academy and Kristen Rund, Assistant Director of College Going Initiatives at ASU Preparatory Academy

Pipeline Connects shares how Arizona is building a statewide, connected ecosystem linking FAFSA completion, postsecondary planning, and career-connected learning. Attendees will learn how connecting FAFSA conversations to career relevance improves engagement and why introducing career and financial literacy earlier improves long-term postsecondary outcomes.

Location: Apache

Presenter: Jessica Howe, Director of My future AZ at Pipeline Connects 

This session offers a guide to financing college with minimal debt, covering Arizona-specific programs like Arizona Promise and Earn to Learn, along with scholarship deadlines and renewal criteria. Attendees will learn how to identify and categorize funding opportunities and how to navigate and manage the scholarship application process.

Location: Alumni Lounge

Presenter: Karla Gonzalez, Assistant Director of Scholarships and Outreach at Pima Community College and Alfred Chavez, Program Specialist in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Pima Community College

Location: Ventana C

Presenter: Peter Granville, Fellow at The Century Foundation
In this session, attendees will receive information about federal policies and specific programmatic support in Arizona for removing financial aid barriers for students experiencing homelessness.

Location: Union Stage

Presenters: Caleb McKay, Senior Manager, FAFSA Completion at SchoolHouse Connection and Rita Rodriguez, Homeless Education Program State Coordinator at the Arizona Department of Education 
  • Awards
  • College Ready AZ updates – Presenter: Kevin Kovaleski, Executive Director of Enrollment Services Communications, Arizona State University
  • Tri-U updates – Presenters: Julia Eischied, Associate Director of Recruitment for the University of Arizona, Kyla Timmons, Assistant Director of Phoenix and Tucson Recruitment, Northern Arizona University, Jennifer Velez, Senior Director for Arizona Recruitment and Strategic Initiatives at Arizona State University
This session shows how school counselors and English teachers can partner to guide seniors through individualized graduation plans, embed ECAP requirements into coursework and integrate FAFSA support throughout the year. Attendees will learn how to build cross-department partnerships that meet ECAP requirements and how to create a collaborative structure for guiding seniors through graduation planning starting at the beginning of the year.

Location: Cochise

Presenter: Jennifer Quiver, School Counselor at West Point High School and Tolleson Union High School District and Hailey Womack, Senior English Teacher at West Point High School
The ETV program supports nearly 1,000 foster youth annually across five states, achieving graduation rates three times the national average. Attendees will learn best practices for supporting foster youth pursuing postsecondary education and the financial resources available through the Educational Training Voucher (ETV) program.

Location: Pima

Presenter: Victor Chandler-Cremades, Assistant Director of Program Delivery at Foster Success
This session explores the University of Arizona Financial Wellness team’s Cost of Attendance Calculator, a tool built with a first-generation student lens to help students assess affordability and connect financial aid to real college costs. Attendees will learn best practices for discussing finances with first-generation students and families, and how the tool has helped improve retention among underrepresented student populations.

Location: LaPaz

Presenters: Alexei Marquez, Assistant Director of Education and Initiatives: Financial Wellness at the University of Arizona, Fred Huang, Senior Coordinator for Financial Wellness at the University of Arizona, Ernesto Jacobo, Graduate Assistant for Financial Wellness at the University of Arizona
This session explores how high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs create pathways to community college, university and certificate programs. Attendees will learn how CTE programs prepare students for postsecondary education, including earning college credit before graduation and the multiple paths available after completing a CTE program.

Location: Apache

Presenter: Lauren Mosley, Recruitment Coordinator at the University of Arizona- College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences
This session covers the requirements and process for the Arizona Diploma Seals and how to use them to boost student engagement. Attendees will learn the requirements for all four diploma seals and how the seals support student engagement and college and career readiness.

Location: Santa Cruz

Presenter: Hannah Rude, Director of K-12 Social Studies and World and Native Languages at the Arizona Department of Education
This session shares a model for integrating college and career readiness, civic engagement and financial readiness into Government and Economics courses. Attendees will learn how to integrate college and career readiness into social studies courses through a scalable model, and how cross-sector partnerships can expand student access to postsecondary opportunities.

Location: Ventana B

Presenters: Maggie Fountain, Director of College, Career, and Professional Learning at Tempe Union High School District, Cheryl Jannuzzi, Social Studies Content Specialist at Tempe Union High School District. 
Representatives from ASU, NAU and the U of A share strategies for supporting students through FAFSA completion, key deadlines and financial aid offer letters. Attendees will learn key FAFSA priority deadlines and processes affecting student eligibility and how to help students understand tuition-free pathways and financial aid offers.

Location: Ventana A

Presenters: Kyla Timmons, Assistant Director at Northern Arizona University Julia Eischeild, Associate Director, Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Arizona

This session explores how mentorship and trusted adult relationships help youth build confidence, resilience and postsecondary readiness – especially for first-generation, multilingual and historically marginalized students. Attendees will learn strategies for building authentic, culturally responsive youth-adult partnerships and how mentorship strengthens youth belonging, resilience and postsecondary success.

Location: Coconino

Presenter: Vanesa Contreras Rodriguez, Vice President of Programs & Impact at New Pathways for Youth

This session shares real-world data from launching EdReady, an ed-tech tool for closing college and career readiness gaps, in Phoenix-area districts. Attendees will learn how to plan funding, training and onboarding for new ed-tech implementations and strategies for maintaining student motivation with self-paced tools introduced late in the year.

Location: Yuma

Presenter: Jennie Lasley, Regional Partnership Manager at The NROC Project / EdReady
This session shows how counselor Heather Shew turned FAFSA into a school-wide movement through FAFSA Spirit Week, using themed events, social media and student ambassadors to build a culture of postsecondary planning. Attendees will learn counselor-led strategies for designing engaging FAFSA and postsecondary awareness campaigns and how to collaborate with students and families to expand college and career readiness efforts.

Location: Alumni Lounge

Presenters: Heather Shew, School Counselor and Lauren Harrell, Post Secondary Articulation Specialist from the Phoenix Union HS District
Location: Ventana Lobby
This session shows how school counselors and English teachers can partner to guide seniors through individualized graduation plans, embed ECAP requirements into coursework and integrate FAFSA support throughout the year. Attendees will learn how to build cross-department partnerships that meet ECAP requirements and how to create a collaborative structure for guiding seniors through graduation planning starting at the beginning of the year.

Location: Cochise

Presenter: Jennifer Quiver, School Counselor at West Point High School and Tolleson Union High School District and Hailey Womack, Senior English Teacher at West Point High School
The ETV program supports nearly 1,000 foster youth annually across five states, achieving graduation rates three times the national average. Attendees will learn best practices for supporting foster youth pursuing postsecondary education and the financial resources available through the Educational Training Voucher (ETV) program.

Location: Pima

Presenter: Victor Chandler-Cremades, Assistant Director of Program Delivery at Foster Success
This session explores the University of Arizona Financial Wellness team’s Cost of Attendance Calculator, a tool built with a first-generation student lens to help students assess affordability and connect financial aid to real college costs. Attendees will learn best practices for discussing finances with first-generation students and families, and how the tool has helped improve retention among underrepresented student populations.

Location: LaPaz

Presenters: Alexei Marquez, Assistant Director of Education and Initiatives: Financial Wellness at the University of Arizona, Fred Huang, Senior Coordinator for Financial Wellness at the University of Arizona, Ernesto Jacobo, Graduate Assistant for Financial Wellness at the University of Arizona
This session explores how high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs create pathways to community college, university and certificate programs. Attendees will learn how CTE programs prepare students for postsecondary education, including earning college credit before graduation and the multiple paths available after completing a CTE program.

Location: Apache

Presenter: Lauren Mosley, Recruitment Coordinator at the University of Arizona- College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences
This session covers the requirements and process for the Arizona Diploma Seals and how to use them to boost student engagement. Attendees will learn the requirements for all four diploma seals and how the seals support student engagement and college and career readiness.

Location: Santa Cruz

Presenter: Hannah Rude, Director of K-12 Social Studies and World and Native Languages at the Arizona Department of Education
This session shares a model for integrating college and career readiness, civic engagement and financial readiness into Government and Economics courses. Attendees will learn how to integrate college and career readiness into social studies courses through a scalable model, and how cross-sector partnerships can expand student access to postsecondary opportunities.

Location: Ventana B

Presenters: Maggie Fountain, Director of College, Career, and Professional Learning at Tempe Union High School District, Cheryl Jannuzzi, Social Studies Content Specialist at Tempe Union High School District. 
Representatives from ASU, NAU and the U of A share strategies for supporting students through FAFSA completion, key deadlines and financial aid offer letters. Attendees will learn key FAFSA priority deadlines and processes affecting student eligibility and how to help students understand tuition-free pathways and financial aid offers.

Location: Ventana A

Presenters: Kyla Timmons, Assistant Director at Northern Arizona University Julia Eischeild, Associate Director, Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Arizona

This session explores how mentorship and trusted adult relationships help youth build confidence, resilience and postsecondary readiness – especially for first-generation, multilingual and historically marginalized students. Attendees will learn strategies for building authentic, culturally responsive youth-adult partnerships and how mentorship strengthens youth belonging, resilience and postsecondary success.

Location: Coconino

Presenter: Vanesa Contreras Rodriguez, Vice President of Programs & Impact at New Pathways for Youth

This session shares real-world data from launching EdReady, an ed-tech tool for closing college and career readiness gaps, in Phoenix-area districts. Attendees will learn how to plan funding, training and onboarding for new ed-tech implementations and strategies for maintaining student motivation with self-paced tools introduced late in the year.

Location: Yuma

Presenter: Jennie Lasley, Regional Partnership Manager at The NROC Project / EdReady
This session shows how counselor Heather Shew turned FAFSA into a school-wide movement through FAFSA Spirit Week, using themed events, social media and student ambassadors to build a culture of postsecondary planning. Attendees will learn counselor-led strategies for designing engaging FAFSA and postsecondary awareness campaigns and how to collaborate with students and families to expand college and career readiness efforts.

Location: Alumni Lounge

Presenters: Heather Shew, School Counselor and Lauren Harrell, Post Secondary Articulation Specialist from the Phoenix Union HS District
Location: Ventana Lobby Certificates will be available beginning at 2:15 during the snack break and through the conclusion of the conference. Individuals must be present to pick up their professional development certificate and will be unable to pick up certificates for their colleagues.

Who should attend and what to expect

This free event is designed for high school counselors, educators, college and career specialists and college access professionals.

Counselors and college access professionals will have the opportunity to engage with programming focused on tools, data and best practices they can take back to their schools and communities.

Sessions will explore the FAFSA completion, Arizona Promise Program and college access initiatives while highlighting tools, resources and proven approaches educators and access professionals can use to better support students through every step of postsecondary planning.

Whether you are new to FAFSA outreach or a seasoned college access professional, you’ll leave with valuable resources, actionable strategies and new connections to help more Arizona students take the next step toward college and career success.

Resource Fair Vendors

  • Paradise Valley Community College
  • Northern Arizona University
  • Scottsdale Community College
  • Phoenix College
  • Education Forward AZ – Ask Benji
  • Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County, Superior Court
  • Hope & A Future
  • Foster Success
  • College Ready AZ
  • Accelerate ASU
  • GateWay Community College
  • College Depot at the Phoenix Pubilc Library
  • Access ASU
  • Arizona Food Bank Network
  • Sallie Mae
  • New Pathways for Youth
  • NorthBridge
  • Flinn Scholars Program
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Lauren Harrell

Post Secondary Articulation Specialist from the Phoenix Union HS District

Lauren Harrell bio portrait
Lauren Harrell began her career in education as a CTE teacher at Maryvale High School before serving as an Upward Bound Assistant Director in Seattle, Washington. After returning to her home state of Arizona, she worked as a school counselor at Ironwood High School in Peoria Unified before returning to Maryvale, where she served as a counselor and Instructional Leader of the Counseling Department.

Jennie Tipton Lasley

Regional Partnership Manager at The NROC Project / EdReady

Jennie Tipton-Lasley bio portrait

Jennie Lasley is an experienced educator and advocate for college and career readiness who brings the perspective of both the classroom and educational leadership to her work with EdReady by NROC.

Before joining EdReady, Jennie spent years as a classroom teacher, giving her firsthand experience with the challenges educators face in meeting students at different academic levels and preparing them for life after high school. She holds a Master of Education in Leadership and Learning and is also a Certified Mediator for Educators, reflecting her commitment to collaboration, communication, and building stronger educational communities.

Today, Jennie partners with K–12 schools, community colleges, universities, and education organizations to help students successfully transition from high school to college and career. Through EdReady, she helps educators identify individual skill gaps in math and English and provide personalized learning paths that allow students to strengthen the skills they need for college-level coursework, dual enrollment, ACT/SAT, ASVAB, and other college and career readiness pathways.

At the heart of Jennie’s work is a simple philosophy: meet students where they are and help them get where they need to be. She is passionate about ensuring that students leave high school not only with a diploma, but with the academic foundation, confidence, and opportunities they need to take their next step successfully.

Linda Burrows

Deputy Associate Superintendent of Academic Standards at the Arizona Department of Education

Linda Burrows bio portrait

Linda Burrows is the Deputy Associate Superintendent of Academic Standards at the Arizona Department of Education, where she provides statewide leadership for the implementation of Arizona Academic Standards across all content areas from birth through grade 12. She oversees a team of 30 professionals and collaborates closely with internal and external partners to advance early literacy, postsecondary readiness, tutoring initiatives, educator professional learning, and statewide academic programs.

With more than two decades of experience in education, Linda has served as a classroom teacher, department head, district leader, and state-level administrator. Her leadership includes overseeing key statewide initiatives such as Diploma Seals, the Arizona Excellence in Education Conference, literacy grants, and Arizona’s Digital Educators Library. She regularly provides expert testimony to the Arizona State Board of Education and the Arizona Legislature and has extensive experience in grant writing, program implementation, and cross-agency collaboration.

She holds a Master’s degree in Education Leadership from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor’s degree in History and Spanish from the University of Arizona. Her professional honors include National Board Certification in Social Studies, Fulbright Hays and Gilder Lehrman fellowships, and the Gates Foundation ECET Award.

Julia Eischeild

Associate Director, Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Arizona

Julia Eischeild bio portrait
Julia serves as one of the Associate Directors of Undergraduate Recruitment at the University of Arizona. She is also the Program Director for the Small Town and Rural Student (STARS) College Network parternship for the university. She is a Wildcat For Life having received her bachelors and masters at Arizona, and working professionally within the Office of Undergraduate Admissions since 2019. Julia’s passion lies in leadership and education development for Arizona youth and their transition to college.

Alexei Marquez

Assistant Director of Education and Initiatives: Financial Wellness at the University of Arizona

Alexei Marquez bio portrait
(she/her/hers/ella) is a native Tucsonan. She is a first-generation Chicana scholar who obtained a Ph.D. student in the Educational Leadership and Policy program at the College of Education at the University of Arizona. As an Assistant Director with Student Assistance, she oversees Financial Wellness Initiatives which helps student to understand financial aspects as it pertains to their overall wellbeing during college and beyond. Through a first-generation college student lens, she has created programming that assists students better understand their own experiences with finances and helps them to navigate the ever changing landscapes of higher education.

Hailey Womack

Senior English Teacher at West Point High School

Hailey Womack bio portrait
I moved to Phoenix, Arizona, from St. Louis, Missouri, and continued my education at the University of Central Missouri and Grand Canyon University. This is my seventh year in an ELA classroom and my fifth year co-teaching. One of the most meaningful experiences of my career has been piloting a co-teaching model in which I looped with my ESS students through 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. Teaching seniors opened my eyes to how many students need stronger post-secondary planning support, and that experience ignited my passion for helping students prepare for the next stage of their lives. Outside of school, I am an avid reader- especially of fantasy books!

Gordana Vincic

Adjunct Professor/ Certified School Social Worker at Paradise Valley Community College 

Gordana Vincic bio portrait
Gordana Vinčić, MSW, CSSW, is pursuing her second master’s degree as a Master of Global Management candidate at Thunderbird School of Global Management. A first-generation college student and first-generation immigrant who began her educational journey in an English as a Second Language (ESL) program, she brings both lived and professional experience to her work. With a background in social work, Gordana has supported communities and K–5 students by strengthening social-emotional skills, delivering outpatient clinical support, promoting practical wellness strategies, conducting community outreach, and helping individuals and families navigate policy changes. She currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Paradise Valley Community College, a graduate research assistant, and a recruitment and admissions assistant at Thunderbird. Her work focuses on belonging, student success, leadership development, and creating inclusive support systems that help students access education and thrive.

Melinda Villalovos

PV Schools College And Career Coordinator at Paradise Valley Unified School District

Melinda Villalovos bio portrait
Melinda Villalovos is the District Lead College & Career Coordinator for Paradise Valley Unified School District, where she has led district-wide initiatives since 2019. She partners with higher education institutions, mentors College & Career Specialists, and supports administrators in strengthening student pathways to postsecondary success. Previously, Melinda served as an Elementary Mathematics Methods Adjunct Professor at Arizona State University, training future teachers in research-based math instruction, and as a District Math Coach in Deer Valley Unified School District, providing instructional support and professional development for teachers. She has also authored Common Core-aligned lesson plans for Scholastic DynaMath Magazine. With a MA.Ed in Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology from Grand Canyon University and a BA in Elementary Education from Arizona State University West, Melinda brings decades of classroom and district-level leadership experience to advancing college and career readiness throughout Paradise Valley Unified.

Kyla Timmons

Assistant Director at Northern Arizona University

Kyla Timmons bio portrait
Kyla Timmons has spent the past 10 years working in higher education at two Arizona public universities, where she has focused on expanding access to higher education and helping students and families navigate the college admission process. She is passionate about building meaningful relationships, supporting student success, and creating pathways that make higher education more accessible for all students. Outside of work, Kyla enjoys distance running, exploring Arizona with her fiancé, baking, and video games.

Heather Shew

School Counselor from the Phoenix Union HS District

Heather Shew bio portrait
I have been at Betty H. Fairfax for 15 years as a counselor! I am passionate about working with students who have experienced trauma and grief, and I strive to create a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment where every student feels valued, heard, and empowered to seek guidance. My goal is to foster trusting relationships that help students build resilience, overcome challenges, and achieve personal and academic success. I am the lead coordinator for Senior Events including Plan Your Future and FAFSA.

Chad Sampson

Executive Director, Arizona Board of Regents

Chad Sampson bio portrait
The Arizona Board of Regents named Chad Sampson executive director in August 2024. He joined the board in 2010 as associate general counsel and transitioned to vice president of strategic planning before serving most recently as vice president of academic affairs and institutional analysis. A member of the State Bar of Arizona since 2002, Sampson has also worked in private law practice with Quarles & Brady and in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office as counsel for the Arizona Department of Education.
 
Sampson is active in the education community, currently serving on the WestEd Board of Directors. He has previously served on the board at Tempe Preparatory Academy, Center for After School Excellence and the Arizona State Board of Education’s Professional Practices Advisory Committee. He has also worked as an adjunct professor at Mesa Community College.
 
Sampson earned bachelor’s degrees in sociology and political science from the University of Utah and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa College of Law. Sampson and his wife, Amber, have five children.

Julie Sainz

Director of FAFSA and College Access Initiatives

Julie Sainz bio portrait
Julie Sainz serves as Director of FAFSA and College Access Initiatives at the Arizona Board of Regents, where she leads statewide strategies and cross-sector partnerships to increase FAFSA completion and expand college access across Arizona. Her work brings together K–12 schools, higher education institutions, state agencies, and community partners to strengthen student support, leverage data, and advance innovative college access initiatives.
With more than 16 years of experience in higher education, Julie has held leadership roles in financial aid administration and student affairs across Arizona’s two- and four-year postsecondary institutions. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Communication and a master’s degree in Postsecondary and Higher Education from Arizona State University.

Kristen Rund

Assistant Director of College Going Initiatives at ASU Preparatory Academy

Kristen Rund bio portrait
Kristen is a passionate advocate for student success who believes every student deserves a path to achievement that’s built around who they are, not a one size fits-all formula. Drawing on her unique blend of experience across both K-12 and Higher Ed, she brings a well-rounded, big-picture view to student support, understanding the challenges students face at every step of their educational journey.

Hannah Rude

Director of K-12 Social Studies and World and Native Languages at the Arizona Department of Education

Hannah Rude bio portrait
Hannah Rude is the Director of K-12 Social Studies and World & Native Languages at the Arizona Department of Education. She leads statewide initiatives focused on academic standards, educator support, professional learning, instructional resources, and programs that strengthen social studies and language education. A former classroom teacher with ten years of experience, Hannah has presented more than 200 hours of professional learning and has served in elected leadership roles within local and national social studies organizations. She is the program manager for the Arizona Academic Diploma Seals as well as the State Tutoring Fund Program. A proud Arizonan since age two, Hannah enjoys reading, traveling, tabletop gaming, and spending time with her husband and their three beloved cats.

Rita Rodriguez

State Coordinator of Homeless Education at the Arizona Department of Education (Office of Homeless, Foster Care, & Refugee Education)

Rita Rodriguez bio portrait
I bring 25+ years of experience and leadership to the role I currently field at the Arizona Department of Education as the State Coordinator of Homeless Education.
 
Named the 2018 Arizona McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison of the year and 2019 National McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison of the year is an honor.
 
During my service in education, I’ve had the privilege of serving underserved and underrepresented students from preschool through college. My experience includes excelling as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison for 10 years in Arizona’s largest district and now I serve as the State Coordinator for Homeless Education for the Arizona Department of Education.

Jennifer Quiver

School Counselor at West Point High School and Tolleson Union High School District

Jen Quiver bio portrait
Jennifer Quiver is originally from Kayenta, AZ in the heart of the Navajo Reservation and now calls the Phoenix west valley home. She spent 10 years teaching and started her 17th year in the counseling realm. Her passion is helping students to successfully pass all their classes and help them cultivate their post-secondary plans. She is currently a high school counselor at West Point High School in the Tolleson Union High School District. Jennifer loves collaborating with colleagues to make sure all students are set for success.

Christian Muñoz

Education Coordinator at Aliento

Christian Munoz bio portrait
Christian Muñoz is an education and advocacy professional committed to advancing equity for immigrant and first-generation communities. He developed an early understanding of how policy and access shape opportunity, which continues to guide his work in education and immigrant justice. Christian earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Regis University. His experience spans the public and government sectors as well as nonprofit immigrant advocacy and education-focused organizations, where he has supported policy-related work, legal access efforts, and community-centered programming. Christian worked as a Program Advisor with the Denver Scholarship Foundation, supporting first-generation and low-income students through college access, postsecondary transitions, and early career planning. Now, as Education Coordinator with Aliento, he leads education-focused initiatives that support undocumented and mixed-status students and families through college access, persistence, and advocacy, while strengthening partnerships with schools and community organizations across Arizona.

Lauren Mosley

Recruitment Coordinator at the University of Arizona College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

Lauren Mosley bio portrait
Lauren is a proud first-generation college graduate from UC Santa Barbara (BS in Geological Sciences, Paleobiology Emphasis) and the University of Arizona (MA in Higher Education). After grad school, she worked at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona and then came back to the U of A. She has held many roles across the campus: Pre-Health Advisor, Transfer Recruitment Coordinator, Marketing Coordinator at the Cultural Centers, and Marketing and Events Assistant at Campus Recreation. Currently, she is the Recruitment Coordinator at the College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences and the advisor for the U of A chapter of HOSA. In her free time, she explores Tucson to find new restaurants and cool wildlife or hangs out at home with her spouse and their 2 elderly cats.

Eboney McKinney

Director of K12 Math and Ed Tech Standards at the Arizona Department of Education

Eboney McKinney bio portrait
Eboney McKinney is the Director of K12 Math and Ed Tech Standards at the Arizona Department of Education and President of the Association of State Supervisors of Mathematics. She spent the first part of her career working in the Sierra Vista Public School District as a teacher-leader, instructional coach, and education advocate. She taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. She has presented at the local, state, and national levels. She is a member of: AML, NCSM, ASSM, BBA, TODOS, AATM, and NCTM. She earned her B.A. in Elem. Education from Prescott College, her M.A. in Mathematics Teaching, and PD and Coaching Certificate from Mount Holyoke College, MA, and is currently completing her dissertation at the University of Arizona-GC in Organizational Development and Leadership.

Caleb McKay

Senior Manager, FAFSA Completion, SchoolHouse Connection

Caleb McKay bio portrait
As the FAFSA Completion Senior Manager at SchoolHouse Connection, Caleb works to increase FAFSA completion and access to financial aid for students experiencing homelessness. Caleb has a background in financial aid, working for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), serving low-income and first-generation students; and for Front Range Community College, the largest community college in Colorado. He previously served as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for unaccompanied homeless youth for his institution. He is passionate about educating others on financial aid policies, increasing access to higher education, and empowering people to succeed.

Jim McCain

Regent at Arizona Board of Regents

James McCain bio portrait
Gov. Katie Hobbs appointed James “Jimmy” McCain to the Arizona Board of Regents in September 2025. Jimmy is the youngest son of the late U.S. Senator John McCain and his wife, Cindy McCain. He followed his father’s footsteps into military service, enlisting in the U.S. Marines at age 17. After four years of active duty and two deployments, he received an honorable discharge in 2010. Jimmy reenlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard in 2013, serving through two additional deployments. He was later commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Army as an intelligence officer. In between his four deployments, he received a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University, a master’s degree from Trinity College Dublin and a second master’s degree from ASU. Jimmy sits on the board of the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association and the Hensley Beverage Company. He has begun pursuing his doctorate in education, focused on healthcare outcomes for Native American veterans within the Indian Health Services system.

Rachel Kist

Program Manager at Arizona State University- First Star ASU

Rachel Kist bio portrait

Rachel Kist is a higher education leader and youth advocate with nearly a decade of experience supporting students through education, mentorship, case management, and student success initiatives. She currently serves as the Program Manager for First Star ASU Academy at Arizona State University (ASU), where she leads a college access and success program serving youth impacted by foster care and housing instability. In her role, Rachel oversees program operations, strategic partnerships, student support services, staff supervision, and community engagement efforts designed to help young people achieve their educational and career goals.
At ASU, Rachel works closely with school districts, the Department of Child Safety, community organizations, and university partners to build coordinated systems of support for youth facing significant barriers to success. She also collaborates with the ASU Foundation on donor-supported initiatives and funding opportunities that expand resources and opportunities for students. Under her leadership, First Star ASU Academy has achieved strong student outcomes, including a 100% high school graduation rate among its most recent graduating class and high rates of postsecondary enrollment.
Prior to joining ASU, Rachel served in several leadership roles at Grand Canyon University, including Appeals Administrator and Student Conduct Coordinator. In these positions, she managed complex student cases, collaborated with multidisciplinary teams, developed policies and procedures, supervised student employees, and worked to create equitable and supportive educational environments. Her experience in student affairs strengthened her ability to navigate challenging situations, implement effective systems, and advocate for student success. She also worked as a Military Enrollment Counselor at Grand Canyon University, helping prospective students navigate the college enrollment process and access educational opportunities. Before transitioning into higher education leadership, Rachel worked with United Services Automobile Association (USAA) as a Non-Injury Auto Adjuster, where she investigated claims, resolved disputes, and served as a mentor and resource for fellow team members.


Throughout her career, Rachel has remained passionate about creating opportunities for young people to discover their strengths, overcome barriers, and pursue meaningful futures. She holds a Master of Science in Leadership from Grand Canyon University and is committed to building programs and partnerships that empower young people to reach their full potential.

Cheryl Jannuzzi

Social Studies Content Specialist at Tempe Union High School District 

Cheryl Jannuzzi bio portrait

Cheryl Jannuzzi has been a dedicated member of the Tempe Union community for decades, spending most of that time as a social studies educator at Corona del Sol High School. Throughout her tenure, she has taken on key leadership roles, including serving as a department lead and chairing school improvement initiatives for several years. For the past five years, she has guided and supported social studies educators across the district in her role as Social Studies Content Specialist for Tempe Union. In this capacity, she helps to advance district initiatives, strengthen instructional practices, and promote strategies that enhance student achievement. She is deeply committed to connecting social sciences to real-world applications and emphasizes the critical role of college and career readiness within the classroom. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies Education and a master’s degree in Education, with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction, both from Arizona State University.

Fred Huang

Senior Coordinator for Financial Wellness at the University of Arizona

Fred Huang bio portrait
Fred Huang is the Senior Coordinator for Financial Wellness. He earned a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Arizona and worked as a K-12 school counselor before joining UofA staff to support college students. Within his Financial Wellness role, Fred partners with students to help them develop their financial wellness, supporting their educational and personal endeavors in college and beyond.

Jessica Howe

Director of My future AZ at Pipeline Connects 

Jessica Howe bio portrait
Jessica Howe is the Director of My Future AZ (MFAZ), a no-cost statewide college and career readiness platform serving nearly 200,000 students in grades 6-12 across Arizona, powered by Pipeline Connects. A former classroom teacher, Jessica partners with K12 schools, colleges, and employers statewide to align education with postsecondary access and workforce demand, supporting students in college and career pathway planning from middle school through graduation.

Aurie Clifford

Assistant Director of Title IV Compliance at Pima Community College

Aurie Clifford bio portrait
Aurie Clifford serves as the Assistant Director of Title IV Compliance in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. She started her financial aid career over 20 years ago and has worked in traditional, non-traditional, and community colleges. Aurie has a passion for advocating for students and student financial aid professionals. Working with AASFAA, WASFAA, NASFAA, HLC, CUPA-HR, WASEA, and NSEA has afforded her the opportunity to gain a diverse skill set in different areas of higher education and in facilitating training sessions for financial aid professionals, students, and the community she serves. Her educational journey includes earning an Associate Degree in Legal Assisting from Phoenix College, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, and a Master’s in Education from Northern Arizona University.

Luis Cordova

Senior Vice President and COO, Rounds Consulting Group

Luis Cordova bio portrait
Luis Cordova is the co-founder, Senior Vice President, and Chief Operating Office of Rounds Consulting Group, an economic and public policy consulting firm that provides research and analysis to public- and private-sector organizations in Arizona and across the country. As an economist, Luis analyzes economic, demographic, real estate, and public policy trends to help organization make informed decisions. Most recently, he has examined Arizona’s education and workforce shortages, identifying gaps between the state’s talent pipeline and the needs of its growing industries. Luis also serves on the board of The Abby School, a school supporting students with autism, and is a founding board member of Zenith College and Career Prep.

Peter Granville

Senior Fellow, The Century Foundation

Peter Granville bio portrait
Peter Granville is a Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation, where he analyzes federal and state policy efforts to improve college access and affordability. His research examines the impacts of tuition prices, financial aid, student debt, and government funding on families’ ability to access and afford higher education. His research has shaped discourse on inequality in higher education, graduate loan caps and the private loan market, Parent PLUS loans, and FAFSA completion.

Andi Fourlis

EdD, Superintendent in Residence, Arizona Institute of Education and the Economy at Northern Arizona University; former Superintendent of Mesa Public Schools

Andi Fourlis bio portrait
Dr. Andi Fourlis is an educational leader whose 33 year career has focused on innovation and excellence.
She is currently the Superintendent in Residence at the Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy at Northern Arizona University. In this role, she works with leaders across sectors to reimagine the future of learning.
As Superintendent of Mesa Public Schools from 2020-2025, Dr. Fourlis led the largest district in Arizona with over 55,000 students and 8,000 employees. Her work focused on future ready students, strategic planning, and fostering community engagement. Points of pride include: the development of at Portrait of a Graduate and Graduation Plus model, strategic staffing models, increased employee retention, graduation rate increase from 78.6%-85.1%, and upward trends in College and Career Readiness Indicators which has positively impacted state accountability measures (all high schools earned an A or B letter grade).
Andi’s education includes a bachelor’s and doctoral degree from Arizona State University, and a Master’s degree from Northern Arizona University.

Maggie Fountain

Director of College, Career, and Professional Learning at Tempe Union High School District

Maggie Fountain bio portrait
Maggie Fountain is a veteran educator with over twenty years of experience as both a classroom teacher and district leader, serving as a department chair, academic coach, district content specialist, and professional development coordinator. Maggie currently serves as the Director of College, Career, and Professional Learning for Tempe Union High School District, where she leads the district’s efforts to ensure all students graduate prepared for postsecondary success. She oversees college and career readiness initiatives, professional learning systems, and educator development, aligning these efforts to strengthen instruction and expand opportunities for students. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Social Studies and Spanish, along with a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.

Michelle Ugalde

Director of Student Advisement at ASU Preparatory Academy

Michelle Ugalde bio portrait

Michelle Ugalde, Director of Student Advisement, leads college and career readiness efforts across the ASU Preparatory Academy Network, helping students successfully navigate the path to postsecondary education. She supports initiatives that guide students through academic planning, college admissions, financial aid, and FAFSA completion, ensuring learners across a diverse network have equitable access to the resources and opportunities they need to achieve their goals.

Driven by a shared commitment to expanding college access and removing barriers to higher education, Michelle has helped lead cross-functional efforts to strengthen FAFSA completion through data-informed outreach, personalized student support, and collaboration with school leaders and community partners. These efforts contributed to an impressive 95% FAFSA completion rate among the network’s graduating seniors.

Karla Gonzalez

Assistant Director of Scholarships and Outreach at Pima Community College

Karla Gonzalez bio portrait

Karla Gonzalez-Quezada serves as the Assistant Director of Scholarships and Outreach at Pima Community College, bringing over two decades of financial aid and higher education experience to her role. She holds degrees from Pima Community College, the University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University, and is deeply passionate about helping students access funding for their education. Outside of work, Karla enjoys traveling, baking, and spending time with family and friends.

Laurel Cherry

K-12 Math Specialist at the Arizona Department of Education

Laurel Cherry bio portrait

Laurel Cherry has been working in math education for 26 years. She spent 15 years as a high school math teacher in both Arizona and Southern California. She has developed and presented professional development at NCTM, NCSM, AATM, CMC-South, CAMT as well as schools and districts all over the country. Laurel is passionate about working with educators to share best practices for the math classroom to maximize student success and learning. She also serves as President of the Arizona Math Leaders (AML). As a math leader, she works daily to challenge the status quo and support educators on what is best for ALL kids in Arizona.

Victor Chandler-Cremades

Assistant Director of Program Delivery for Arizona’s Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program

Victor Chandler-Cremades Bio image

Victor is a local of Chandler and a Northern Arizona University alum. Having previously championed youth development through AmeriCorps, Victor is deeply committed to empowering young people as they navigate the intricacies of achieving their postsecondary educational goals.

Alfred Chavez, M.Ed.

Program Specialist in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Pima Community College

Alfred Chavez portrate

Drawing on a Master’s in Higher Education Leadership from NAU, he brings over seven years of frontline Student Services experience—having served on the ground as a recruiter, embedded advisor, and financial aid & scholarship specialist. Driven by a commitment to removing systemic barriers to college completion, Alfred leverages his cross-departmental expertise to share practical roadmaps for FAFSA execution, Arizona-specific aid, and debt-free degree pathways.

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