Staff

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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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Jennifer Lopez

Director of Marketing & Events

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

Outreach and College Success Manager

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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Gabrielle Coachman

Gabrielle Coachman

College Success Advisor

I am the newest College Success Advisor for CCC! I am so excited to meet the students and doing everything I can to help them reach their fullest collegiate potential. I was also a CCC student throughout my high school and collegiate years, so working for CCC is like coming right on home. CCC was essential to my high school and collegiate success, so I can’t wait to meet and work with y'all. Here’s to a successful school year!

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Jess Hernandez

College Success Advisor

Jessica (Jess) Hernandez is a recent Texas resident, originally from Lynn, MA. She is a graduate from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH, where she studied Sociology and Latinx Studies. Jess spent a lot of her time at Dartmouth serving the first-generation, low-income community on campus, aiding their transition to college as well as their success while there. After graduating in June 2022, Jess moved to Houston to jumpstart her post-grad independence and pursue her passion of educational equity with CCC. As a Latina and first-generation, low-income graduate herself, Jess truly knows what it’s like to strive for college success, the challenges that come along with being an FGLI student in college and acknowledges the fundamental need students have for strong support networks. That is why she cares deeply about helping FGLI students not only succeed but thrive in a college environment. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, reading and painting!

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Alejandra Garcia

College Success Advisor

Hi, my name is Alejandra Garcia and I have a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Education from the University of Houston. As a first generation, low-income student, I understand the struggles and complexities of college and feeling like you are along. CCC has always been there to show me that it does get easier and that CCC is always willing to help, which is why it is important for me to come back after completing my studies and help other student who may be filling this way. I can give them the tools necessary to success in college and in their post college years. I can’t wait to see all the great things our students will go off and do!

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