Our Team
The team of experts dedicated to helping you on your college journey.
College and career success doesn’t have to fall on your shoulders alone.
Our unique approach relies on partnerships with trusted, nonprofit universities. They provide our students affordable access to their degree programs, and we provide all the things that students need to be successful: a deeply supported onboarding process, personalized coaching and supports in our Denver campus, and a community of caring staff and peers that will be with them every step of the way.
This approach means students can pursue their degree and build their career at the same time, even while working or supporting family.
Sung Ahn
Success Coach
Sung Anh
Isabela Aldana
Head of Career Pathways
Isabela Aldana
Head of Career Pathways
Isabela is a workforce development professional with a career and academic counseling background. From a young age, she believed in the transformative power of education and has dedicated her career to helping non-traditional and underrepresented populations improve their social and economic mobility. Over the last decade, she has focused on working with employers, unions, and community partners to create career pathways and advancement opportunities for healthcare employees. As Head of Career Pathways, her goal is to create opportunities and remove barriers for students so they can effectively navigate the world of work. She is a first-generation student and professional with a Master’s degree in Counseling & Student Services from California State University, Fresno, and a Bachelor’s degree in History from UCLA.
Michelle Yi Alexander
Michelle Yi Alexander
Michelle Yi Alexander is the Head of Marketing and Outreach at AdvanceEDU. She has over 15 years of professional experience navigating groups through a number of communications and organizational needs. Prior to joining the AdvanceEDU team, she was the communications director at the Charter School Growth Fund where she developed and executed a comprehensive communications strategy to further a national portfolio with over 150 members. She served as a communications and organizational leader for a national trade organization, nonprofits, government agencies, and campaigns.
As a second-generation Korean-American who was born and raised in Colorado, she has a passion to use her lived and professional background to ensure everyone has opportunities to learn and thrive. Michelle is a first generation college graduate and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Boston University and a Masters in Management from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Holly Armstrong
Holly Armstrong
Head of Student Success
Holly is passionate about helping students thrive in education, career, and life. She has held multiple roles dedicated to building high-quality programs that promote equity for all students and communities. Prior to AdvanceEDU, she led an academic support program as Coordinator of Supplemental Instruction at Metropolitan State University of Denver. As the Assistant Director of College Completion for PelotonU, she helped create innovative student support resources and programming for the emerging hybrid college sector. Before PelotonU, she worked in various PK-12 roles coaching district leaders and teachers, overseeing curriculum and instruction, and creating remedial reading programs. Holly, a native Texan, graduated from Austin College and received her Master’s in Teaching from Marian University and her Master’s in Language and Literacy from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She hopes to help shape the future of higher education through AdvanceEDU’s dynamic, flexible, and career-relevant approach to supporting students.
Marissa Casimiro
Marissa Manzanares
Marissa’s passion for college access along with her 7+ years of experience within higher education has allowed her to support underrepresented students and give back to her community here in Denver and her hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah. As a first generation college student, Marissa is a proud alumna of the University of Utah, where she obtained her Bachelors of Social Work degree in 2015. Following her move to Denver in 2017, she attended the University of Denver and received her Master of Arts degree in Higher Education in 2020. Prior to AdvanceEDU, Marissa has had the opportunity to support student success in several roles, including Alumni Success Advisor for KIPP Colorado Schools, Pathway Academic Advisor at the Community College of Aurora, and Undergraduate Admissions specialist at the University of Denver, along with other nonprofits in her hometown. She hopes to continue to serve, support, and advise students towards their passions at AdvanceEDU and to educate/advocate to others that there is more than one pathway towards brighter futures.
Lesley Del Rio
Lesley Del Rio
Lesley has a deep commitment to the Denver Community through her engagement, advocacy, and education work. Raised in the Westwood neighborhood of Denver, she graduated from Florence Crittenton High School and has served in various non-profit organizations in the Denver metro area in pursuit of advancing equity and access for underserved communities. Her other community leadership and advocacy includes serving as a Parent Advisor for the Aspen Institute, facilitating community collective action conversations, serving on the Denver Health Community Advisory Panel, and mentoring through Latinas Increasing Political Strength, At AdvanceEDU, Lesley remains committed to the Denver community by helping students access higher education and postsecondary opportunities. Lesley is a first generation student, a mother of a 10 year old who loves video games, and was the first AdvanceEDU Student to earn her associate’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University. Lesley is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree with AdvanceEDU.
Meagan Dizon
Meagan Dizon
Meagan Dizon (she/ her/ hers) was born and raised in Queens, New York prior to her family’s move to Denver, where she graduated from Denver East High School and then continued to study at the University of Denver (DU). At DU she studied psychology, communication and marketing (BA 2018), and it was during this time she learned about the field of higher education through working as a resident assistant. Learning about the impact student affairs professionals can have on a student’s experience, as a first generation student herself, she decided to continue her education where she earned her masters in higher education (MA 2020).
Prior to working with AdvanceEDU, Meagan worked as a Program Manager in the Office of Diversity Affairs at the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder. In this role she understood the importance of professional coaching and career readiness to coincide with academic achievement. She hopes to continue working with students to achieve their goals and to create access for community success.
Anslem Elumogo-Gardner
Anslem Elumogo-Gardner
Anslem Elumogo-Gardner joins AdvanceEDU with over 15 years of nonprofit leadership and community building experience. He has spent the last decade plus of his life working for and alongside organizations dedicated to closing the wealth gap through education, workforce training, economic development, and community building. Prior to relocating back to Colorado in 2023, he served as Chief of Staff, Vice President of Operations, and Program leads for a variety of community-based and cultural institutions, most notably in roles focused on operations, strategic planning, and program management.
Anslem is a loud leader for racial justice and an advocate for communities systemically impacted by disinvestment and a lack of resources. He is an active Board Member and the Finance Committee Chair for Cultivate Collective; a Chicago-based nonprofit who just launched a massive project dedicated to revitalizing Chicago’s Southwest side through an innovative campus focused on climate equity, education, health, workforce development, and food access. Anslem earned his MBA from the University of Denver to round out his nonprofit experience with a strong business acumen to focus on the financial and sustainability aspects of organizations and looks forward to doing the same for AdvanceEDU. He is excited to bring his personal and professional experience as a first gen college graduate(and Nigerian American) to AdvanceEDU’s important mission while building and improving equitable systems and honing its strategy.
Michelle Jaramillo
Michelle Jaramillo, M.A.
Michelle (She/Her/Hers) was born and raised in Colorado. Since 2005, she has been helping students curate their academic path to reach their educational goals, through community outreach, academic advising, caseload management, student mentoring, and intervention. Michelle is an accomplished State of Colorado Certified LEAD (Learn, Empower, Advance Drive) Academic Advisor, Global Career Certified Facilitator, and NACADA-Global Community for Academic Advising Member.
As a self-motivated, student-focused, detail oriented, organized professional, Michelle is committed to supporting students and peers in their individual goals for academic and career success. As a first-generation woman of color, with strong moral and ethical principles, Michelle is uniquely qualified to empower and support students who need it most. For the 5 years prior to joining AdvanceEDU as a Success Coach, Michelle was with the Community College of Aurora (CCA), where she generated student success and leadership in various roles, as an Interim Assistant Director, Lead Pathway Advisor, and STEM Pathway Advisor, coordinating advising efforts of all advisors, while maintaining relationships with over 500 students herself, to ensure that everyone received the attention required to be successful in their educational goals, both students and peers alike. During Michelle’s time at CCA, she was instrumental in bringing CCA from last in enrollment amongst the 13 Colleges within the Colorado Community College System, to second overall. Her drive and dedication earned her the Excellence in Innovation in Student Affairs award from the Colorado Community College System in 2023. Michelle earned her Master’s Degree in Adult Education Management and Administration, with an emphasis in Special Education, from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 2014. Prior to that, she received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology at Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2005.
Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, especially her nieces and nephews, fur-babies, traveling the world and meeting new people.
Kira Maples
Kira Maples
With a wealth of experience in career development, Kira Maples is committed to nurturing personal and professional growth in others. Drawing from her own life journey that included navigating the systemic challenges of achieving a post-secondary education while growing up in a low-income environment, Kira’s passion lies in supporting individuals to help transcend barriers and achieve their career aspirations.
Prior to AdvanceEDU, Kira’s influence has been felt across classrooms, virtual platforms, and personalized settings, where she has provided career guidance to students and professionals in various sectors spanning non-profit, workforce development, mental health, and technology. Her prowess lies in crafting tailored training programs and guided mentorship that propels individuals toward achieving personal and professional objectives.
Combining empathy, leadership and career pathing expertise alongside her own personal journey, Kira helps empower individuals with the tools and motivation they need to reach their goals. A graduate of Central Michigan University, she stands as a testament to the transformative power of determination, perseverance and education.
Diondre Morales
Diondre Morales
Enrollment Specialist
Diondre Morales was born and raised in Colorado. Education has always remained a priority in his life as he was the first in his family to attain a college degree. Diondre earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Colorado State University where his passion for education and mentoring grew from his own journey. Diondre has always believed that all students deserve equal access to resources and opportunities to successfully navigate through their journey of education and beyond. Prior to AdvanceEdu Diondre worked as a College and Career Advisor at his high school Alma Mater in Fort Lupton, CO. Diondre also served as a City Year Denver Americorps member and was a recipient of the National Corps Member of the Year Award in recognition of his ability to build relationships with students and staff.
Lauren Trent
