Staff

Kathy Rose

Kathy Rose

Executive Director
Kathy has a Bachelor of Science in math and Spanish education from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in college counseling from UCLA Extension. She is a professional member of IECA and has attended the College Board Summer Institute at Harvard. Kathy began her career as a mathematics teacher at Spring Branch High School in Spring Branch ISD and went on to become a computer programmer and later a trainer with Chevron. Next she served as a development officer with the University of Houston Sugar Land and then became a major gifts officer with U of H. Kathy was the founding Houston director of College Forward and successfully launched the program into four high schools in east Harris County.
 
Kathy founded CollegeCommunityCareer in 2012 to focus on low-income, first-generation students on the west side of the greater Houston area. She envisioned the organization expanding to reach the burgeoning underserved populations in public high schools. She is a former board member of the Fort Bend Education Foundation, board of trustees member for the International School of Aberdeen (Scotland), and board of directors member of the American International School in Lagos, Nigeria, and St. Agnes Academy in Houston​. Kathy received a Jefferson Award in 2016.

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Khy-Lan Patton

College Success Advisor

Khy-Lan Patton is a graduate of California State University Los Angeles with a Bachelor's in Political Science emphasis in Pre-Law with minors in Pan African Studies, Women's Gender Sexualities Studies and California Real Estate. During her undergraduate studies she worked with low-income first-generation students from the Los Angeles metropolitan area serving as a mentor preparing students for SAT, ACTs, college applications, resumes, and letters of recommendations. Khy-Lan was a Resident Assistant for a campus dorm serving first generation freshmen and residents in African American themed housing. After graduating Khy-Lan relocated to Houston, Texas to pursue a teaching career for elementary students. She is currently enrolled in University of Houston graduate program pursuing a Masters of Education in Curriculum & Instruction- Learning, Design & Technology.

Khy-Lan experienced a similar program during high school like CollegeCommunityCareer, which helped her gain admission and graduate from a university. She wants to help other students with a similar background by making sure they have the resources and opportunities needed to ensure they are successful in their educational goals.

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Jennifer Lopez

Brand & Content Manager

Jennifer Lopez is a native from Chicago, Illinois and was raised in Houston, TX where she is a graduate of the University of Houston- Main Campus with a Bachelor’s in Art and a minor in Advertising. While she was attending UH- Main Campus she participated in the American Advertising Federation (AAF) where she excell her knowledge in the advertising world, network with brands, agencies, media companies, and learned the insights of TV advertising media and digital advertising media. Ms. Lopez also competed and was selected for the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Women’s, Gender & Sexuality program where only seven artist students were selected to have their art display at the University of Houston- Main Campus. Jennifer was selected four times for her digital art to be displayed at the Bi-annual Show and three times to be displayed at the Blaffer Art Museum- Virtual.
After graduating, she continued her internship with BSM Magazine, Jennifer at BSM to craft ensure their BSM Magazine gain a foothold on social media. With Jennifer’s expertise organized the piece that launched the brand with, actor Holly Robison Peete. The Instagram post was reposted 1.2M impressions. , Jennifer work with SheSpace as a brand manager for CEO Alicia's boutique and podcast, “Vibes by Alicia.” While working for the podcast , she also partook in one of the episodes, “Bonus Episode- Mix Family and Business? The Right Mix of Chaos and Love.” Jennifer with her knowledge in social marketing strategy, identifying, and targeting audiences boosted sales and brand awareness for the company. At the same time she joined Idioma Mujer where she continues her knowledge as their Marketing Director where she has had the opportunity to network with Univision and Children at Risk.
All of the above reinforces Jennifer’s ability to craft, plan, strategize, mix creativity and marketing to excel her vision and achieve the company's goals.
Jennifer is one of the first college graduates of the CollegeCommunityCareer program and excite to be back working with the organization.

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Tomas Tobar

College Success Advisor

Tomas Tobar graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration, majored in Business and minored in Philosophy, Honor Society in English and Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas. He has a diverse professional experience; from working at the Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce having had the opportunity to co-lead TEACH fellowship students abroad, to working in the hospitality arena which allowed him to work with many different skillsets and cultures.

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