Our Team
Michele Rudy
Co-Founder and Director
Michele Rudy has 22 years of experience working for educational equity and college and career attainment. Previously, she was a national organizer with United We Dream, working on campaigns that secured economic opportunity and higher education for 1.7 million students. At Arizona State University Entrepreneurship + Innovation she designed and led a business accelerator for community entrepreneurs. Michele recently earned her doctorate in education leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Carlos Vasquez
Web Design and Program Associate
Originally from Ecuador, Carlos Vasquez is a Salem State University student studying Computer Science. He has experience working with Python, AI, and machine learning. He is a former Abretech fellow with Cultivate Pathways where he was the lead web designer. Carlos is a game designer and is studying Computer Programming with Code The Dream. Carlos is also the author of a book titled “More Than An American Dream” about his family’s experience leaving Ecuador and immigrating to the United States.
Our Advisors
Erick Garcia
Director of Digital + Technology
Aliento
Erick Garcia is a Veracruzano/Jarocho technologist based in Mesa, AZ. He has a degree in Computer Systems Engineering from Arizona State University.
When Arizona voters passed Prop 300, Erick was blocked from attending college because of his immigration status.
Erick recently led the digital campaign for Prop 308, a successful statewide ballot measure to ensure all Arizona students, regardless of status, can attend college and pursue their career goals. Erick is committed to using digital and data-driven strategies for policy change and empowerment of the immigrant community.
Derek Niño Ed.L.D.
Senior Consultant
Education First
Derek was raised in Southern California, the son of Mexican immigrants. He has worked to advance equitable access to high-quality education for multilingual learners for two decades. Formerly an Associate Director at Jobs for the Future, he developed career pathways nationwide. Derek was a K-12 educator for 11 years, serving as a high school math teacher, English Language Development department chair, and member of district leadership teams. He worked with the Delaware and Rhode Island Departments of Education while earning his doctorate from the Harvard Graduation School of Education.
Oscar Romero
Senior Software Engineer
Merit America
Oscar Romero is a passionate software engineer, first generation immigrant from Mexico and first-generation college graduate based in Durham, North Carolina.
Oscar is passionate about helping others to overcome similar obstacles that he faced in his own journey as a student.
He is a Github OctoGatos Presenter and developer of multiple civic tech apps such as AdelanteNC and VotemosNC.