Asset-focused thinkers who believe in the power of community.
José Coló
Executive Director
Raised in Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca, José’s professional journey eventually led him to work as a high school teacher on the West Side of Chicago, where he toiled for four years alongside some of the best teachers in the Windy City.
Later, he wrestled against educational inequality through a variety of positions, including Assistant Principal [Uplift Education], Curriculum Designer [BDL], and Education Director [NHI]. His experiences leading teams to design programming for scholars and educators across the United States and Latin America drive his belief in ed-innovation as a tool for community development.
José received his bachelor's degree in Political Science and Spanish Literature from Loyola Marymount University. He also holds a Masters degree in International Education Policy from Harvard University. Outside work you can find him listening to music by the Lakefront, reading a book at his local taqueria, or binge-watching streaming services.
Cecilia Coló
Director of Program Design
As the Director of Program Design, Cecilia works alongside partners and educators to create transformational learning experiences. She manages the research and design of the New American Scholars Program.
Cecilia first fell in love with the science of pedagogy and curriculum innovation as a high school IB Economics HL & Theory of Knowledge teacher. During her tenure, the humanistic approach of her curriculum design led to a 90% passing rate amongst her students and contributed to a 28% increase in the school’s AP passing rate; helping elevate the school's ranking to 1 out of 236 charter schools in North Texas.
Inspired by the global impact of technology, she later transitioned into a data analyst position at Indeed. Cecilia’s experiences in project management, data analysis, and market research inform her approach to the design of theory-based curricula for scholars and professionals.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and a Business Certificate from the McCombs School. Coló enjoys camping, discussing literature with friends, and finding peace through jogging.
Board of Directors
"Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.”
― Franklin D. Roosevelt
