Our Team and Leadership

Ekaterina Struett was appointed as Chief Executive Officer by College Advising Corps’ Board of Directors on August 1, 2022. She served as Interim CEO from May 2021 through July 2022.

Ekaterina serves as a liaison with strategic partners and is responsible for creating and maintaining collaborative relationships with CAC staff members, the CAC Board of Directors, and external constituents

Ekaterina knows first-hand the transformative impact that college access has on economic mobility. As an adult immigrant to the United States, she completed her college education while working full-time and raising three children. Ekaterina is committed to helping students from all backgrounds and walks of life learn about the post-secondary opportunities available to help them achieve their dreams. She knows that doors to higher education were opened to her because people believed in her and pointed the way. This is the message CAC advisers deliver to young people every day.

Prior to serving as Interim CEO, Ekaterina served CAC as the Chief Operating Officer, Chief of Staff, and Senior Director of People Operations. Her previous experience includes executive roles with Rise Against Hunger and Larson Training Centers, Inc. Ekaterina received her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from North Carolina State University.

Cary Claiborne, Chief Program Officer, is responsible for overseeing the portfolio of partnerships that College Advising Corps forms with our university and funding partners, including traditional in-school advising, hybrid and virtual advising, and advising performed by artificial intelligence. Cary raises the organization’s profile through external communications, providing mentoring, guidance, supervision, and professional development to program staff, and enhances the structure of the organization by staying abreast of developments in postsecondary education and college access policies.

Cary has led strategic student success initiatives for over a decade. He brings experience developing, implementing, and scaling student success programs at two- and four-year levels. At Georgia State University, he served various roles, from serving students as an academic advisor to leading the university’s first-year strategy for over 8,000 students. Most recently, Cary served as Director of Diagnostic and Implementation Services at the National Institute for Student Success, where he partnered with institutions nationwide to improve student success outcomes. Cary’s storied path through Georgia State University and his passion for the work of student success is well documented in “Won’t Lose This Dream: How an Upstart Urban University Rewrote the Rules of a Broken System” by Andrew Gumbel.

Cary is pursuing his Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies from Georgia State University, where he earned an MBA in Business Analysis and a BS in Economics. When he’s not enthralled with Student Success, Cary collects vinyl records and retro technology or travels with his wife, Danielle, and two children.

Michael Cobb, Ph.D., serves as Senior Director, Impact & Evaluation. He oversees a staff of analysts who collect timely and accurate data measuring CAC advising and college enrolment. These data are critical for improving programmatic advising and external audiences use them to evaluate CAC performance.

Prior to joining CAC, Michael was an Associate Professor of Political Science at NC State University and a consultant for private businesses and government agencies. His research about race, public opinion, and political behaviors was published in the leading journals in his discipline and covered in national and local media. He also helped evaluate the efficacy of courses at NC State that were designed to be taught entirely online, compared to the same courses taught in person, which sparked his interest in studying how to increase non-traditional students’ college enrollment.

Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California-Santa Cruz and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Illinois-Urbana. He runs marathons, loves travel, and adopted two cats he’s allergic to. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Jennifer DeGuzman is the Senior Partnership Director, West for the program team. She provides leadership and support to CAC programs and special projects throughout the Far West Coast and works to ensure that program goals are met and that students receive high-quality support. In her role, Jennifer also develops and maintains a network of high-impact partners from various sectors, including higher education leaders, investors, and government officials that aid in the overall maintenance, sustainability, and success of CAC university programs on the Far West Coast.

Prior to joining College Advising Corps, Jennifer worked in the non-profit and education fields for fifteen years both in New York City and Los Angeles. Most recently, Jennifer built partnerships between colleges and preparatory organizations to ensure high retention of students. Previous to this role, Jennifer administrated several reconnections to education and workforce services for youth involved in the foster care system or the juvenile justice system. In all of her roles, Jennifer contributed thought leadership in the field by facilitating multiple presentations and training both at national conferences and on college campuses. Jennifer started her career as a social worker facilitating leadership development training for youth.

Jennifer received her bachelor’s degree in Religion and Gender Studies from Bard College and a master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University where she concentrated on Health and Mental Health. Jennifer enjoys cooking, all things tiki, and spending time with her family and friends. She is based out of Long Beach, California.

Arissa Gaytan, Ed.D., serves as the Partnership Director, Texas and Utah. In her role, Arissa provides leadership and support to College Advising Corps programs and special projects and works to ensure program goals are met and students receive quality support. Arissa also develops and maintains a network of high-impact partners from various sectors that aid in the overall maintenance, sustainability, and success of CAC program partners in Texas and Utah. Sectors include higher education, philanthropy, and government.

Arissa began her career serving as a College Advising Corps adviser at The University of Texas at Austin. She has nine years of experience in college admissions overseeing undergraduate recruitment at Texas Woman’s University. While at Texas Women’s University, she built partnerships across secondary and higher education institutions to increase educational access and support to first-generation, low-income, and marginalized students.

Arissa received her Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Lamar University, her master’s degree in Student Development and Leadership in Higher Education from Angelo State University, and her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin. She is based out of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and enjoys sports, drinking coffee, and spending time with friends and family.

Kasha Heath, Ed.D, is the Partnership Director for the Southeast Region, serving Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia. In her role, Kasha provides leadership and support to College Advising Corps programs and special projects and works to ensure program goals are met and students receive quality support. Kasha also develops and maintains a network of high-impact partners from various sectors that aid in the overall maintenance, sustainability, and success of CAC program partners in Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Prior to joining College Advising Corps, Kasha served as a K-12 educator for 13 years. With a vast amount of experience working in the public educational sector, she has found her passion in working with at-risk youth in urban and low-income communities. Understanding the disparities that exist with people of color in underserved communities, she is committed to being an educational advocate to support students and families through building partnerships and providing resources and access to those who deserve social and academic justice within the public education school system.

Kasha received her Doctor of Education in Higher Education and Leadership Studies from Immaculata University, her master’s degree in Professional School Counseling from the University of Georgia, and a bachelor’s degree from Spelman College. She is based in the Atlanta area and enjoys traveling, going to dinner, and spending time with family and friends.

Lizzie Hemmis is the Impact & Evaluation (I&E) Analyst at College Advising Corps—where she works to improve student outcomes by preparing, processing, analyzing, and interpreting program data. She shares this information with internal and external partners to help make data-informed decisions.

Prior to joining College Advising Corps, Lizzie worked in the nonprofit and education fields for over six years in a variety of roles. She began her career at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland. She oversaw the Continuous Quality Improvement initiative at the organization—utilizing qualitative and quantitative data to create action plans for enhancing Club operations and members’ Overall Club Experience. In 2020, Lizzie supported Cleveland State University’s transition to remote learning by analyzing its eLearning support ticket data to identify training needs. Additionally, Lizzie has been involved in several research studies in nonprofit and school settings.

Lizzie received her bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock University in Nonprofit Management with concentrations in Youth Development and Evaluation. Lizzie enjoys attending concerts, playing tabletop board games with friends, and curling up with a good book next to her beloved pets. She resides in Euclid, Ohio.

Dani Lechner is the Senior Specialist, Development and Training, on the national program team, where she develops and distributes tools and resources for effective advising practices. Dani also manages knowledge development opportunities and delivers training for staff and advisers to help them increase college readiness and meet the unique needs of students.

Prior to joining College Advising Corps’ national team, Dani designed and facilitated justice and equity-centered programs and training aimed at advancing opportunities for women in leadership, industry, and research with the Women’s Resource Center at Georgia Tech. From 2016-2018, Dani oversaw diversity education and dialogue programs as well as multicultural peer-leadership experiences for the Center for Multicultural Student Services at James Madison University. Dani began her career in educational equity in 2014 as a College Advising Corps adviser at North Carolina State University, supporting students at South Creek High School. While in this role, she researched and proposed advising practices and policies for advisers in rural communities as a CAC Data & Policy Fellow and, in 2015, served as the national office Evaluation and Impact Measurement intern.

Dani received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration from James Madison University. Dani enjoys ghost tours, creating stained glass art, and is based out of Richmond, Virginia.

Ariel Norris, Ph.D., serves as Senior Partnership Director. She leads and supports College Advising Corps programs and special projects in three states and works in collaboration with colleagues who lead programs in the Southeastern Region. Ariel identifies and maintains a network of high-impact partners (including higher education leaders, investors, and government officials) critical to the maintenance, sustainability, and success of our university programs in Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Before joining CAC in her current role, Ariel served for two years as an adviser with College Advising Corps at the University of North Carolina. Most recently, Ariel directed a signature retention program at Georgia State University that assisted academically at-risk students with their transition into college. She also led innovative efforts to increase the retention, progression, and graduation rates of students at the university.

Ariel received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has an M.Ed. in Counselor Education from Clemson University and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from North Carolina State University. Ariel enjoys exercising, writing, and spending time with friends and family, and is based out of Atlanta, Georgia.

Midori Nozaki serves as College Advising Corps’ Chief of Staff, advising the CEO in setting strategic priorities and advancing special projects. In her role, she partners with executive leadership and team members across CAC to improve efficiency and ensure organizational alignment and momentum. Midori has held various roles at CAC and served most recently as Senior Manager of Advancement Operations.

Prior to arriving at CAC, Midori was the Director of Operations and Chief of Staff at Carnegie Prep, a test preparation and tutoring company based in Connecticut. She oversaw the operation of Carnegie Prep’s courses and practice tests, and she worked with the executive team on organizational improvements, development of new services, and emerging strategies in the academic landscape.

Midori graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and East Asian Studies from New York University. She also holds a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Tokyo. In her free time, Midori enjoys traveling, listening to an ever-growing backlog of podcast episodes, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She is based in New Haven, CT.

Kayla Overdiep is the Manager, Data Management supporting the development, implementation, and management of College Advising Corps’ mission-critical technology-based products and projects designed to support its mission, and goals and increase student impact. Kayla is the primary technical product and project lead for the CAC’s texting campaigns that allow programs and advisers to share timely college-going information with high school students. She is responsible for planning and executing campaign strategies and handling support requests across the CAC network to ensure the timely resolution of design and performance issues.

Prior to joining CAC’s national staff, Kayla served for two years as the North Carolina State College Advising Corps as a College Adviser at Washington County High School. Although she is not originally from a rural area, Kayla related to her students and school community members and was successful in assisting her students through the college-going process.

Kayla graduated with Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Business Administration from North Carolina State University. Kayla enjoys cooking, watching movies, reading books and comics, supporting the NC State Wolfpack, and channeling her creative side through crafts and art projects. She is based in Jamestown, North Carolina.

Brandi Peel is the Development and Training Specialist at College Advising Corps, where she designs and delivers training resources to enhance effective advising practices. 

Prior to joining College Advising Corps’ national team, Brandi served as a Transition Advisor at KIPP Nashville, where she implemented strategies that improved student engagement and college persistence, particularly for first-generation and low-income students. Brandi began her career in college access in 2016 as a College Advising Corps Adviser at Kansas State University, supporting students at Turner High School. Additionally, she has worked as a Financial Aid Completion Advisor for Get Schooled and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission providing personalized guidance on FAFSA and financial aid.

Brandi earned her bachelor’s degree in Developmental Family Sciences and Spanish from Purdue University. She enjoys interior design, curating music playlists, and exploring new cuisines through her love of travel, and she is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Elauna Pettigrew serves as Director, Development and Training. Previously she served as Program Manager for the CollegePoint Initiative and supervised a team of virtual advisers as they worked toward the CollegePoint mission of increasing the number of high-achieving, low- and moderate-income students who apply to, enroll in, and graduate from highly selective institutions.

Prior to joining College Advising Corps, Elauna worked as a peer tutor and presentation coach at The University Speaking Center at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where she focused on meeting students where they were to build self-confidence and achieve individually created goals. Elauna also volunteered as a mentor and interpreter for Spanish-speaking high school students with low English proficiencies. It was there Elauna first realized the difficulty many local high school students faced when deciding if, where, and how to apply to college and became passionate about helping.

Elauna graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she received her bachelor’s degree in Spanish and communication studies. Elauna enjoys playing pool, riding her motorcycle, learning about different cultures through international travel, and is based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Andrew Prince is the Senior Finance Analyst at College Advising Corps. He provides support related to financial administration, budgeting, monitoring costs, contracts, and other business needs. Additionally, he works with internal and external stakeholders in finance-related matters and other tasks that support CAC’s finance department.

Andrew began his career as an external auditor at Elliott Davis, PLL,C, and later joined the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (NCOSA) in the Performance Audit Division. Before joining CAC in 2025, Andrew was the Finance Officer for Onslow County, North Carolina where he managed the finance and purchasing teams of one of North Carolina’s largest counties.

Andrew was born and raised in Sandyville, West Virginia. He attended Concord University in southern West Virginia, where he majored in Business Administration. After completing his undergraduate degree, he attended West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia, to complete his Master’s of Professional Accountancy. In 2013, he relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina. He spends his personal time saltwater fishing, supporting his Mountaineers, and playing fetch with his Golden Shepherd, Lu.

Maggie Rudd, Director of AmeriCorps Programs and Grants Management, is responsible for fostering relationships with foundations and government agencies to build College Advising Corps’ revenue base. Maggie’s efforts focus on cultivating partnerships throughout the southeast and nationally. Working closely with the organization’s CAO, executive leadership team, and programs team, Maggie facilitates CAC’s ongoing partnership with AmeriCorps. 

Prior to joining CAC in 2020, Maggie worked at Virginia Tech in student leadership and organizations. In her role, Maggie developed various leadership curriculums and accountability processes for student leaders. Also, while at Virginia Tech, Maggie advised and provided academic mentorship to student-athletes. 

Maggie has a master’s degree in higher education from Virginia Tech and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Appalachian State University. When not working, Maggie loves exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, watching Office reruns, and drinking coffee. Maggie is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.  

Madisson Smith is the Program Manager for the NC Hybrid Program. Her team serves counties in western and eastern North Carolina. Prior to joining College Advising Corps, Madisson worked in the K-12, higher education, and non-profit spaces for 8 years. Madisson served as a college adviser for 3 years with the Davidson College Advising Corps program and then became the program coordinator for the Davidson CAC program, serving as a coach and mentor for advisers. Madisson also worked as a Career Counselor at UNC Charlotte, serving students in the exploratory major. Most recently, Madisson served as the Lead School and College Counselor at Langtree Charter Academy in Mooresville, NC. Madisson is dedicated to student access, support, and success.

Madisson received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Educational Studies from Davidson College and a master’s degree in Counseling from North Carolina State University where she concentrated on College Counseling and Student Development, earning her license as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor. Madisson enjoys playing volleyball, cooking, listening to Taylor Swift, drinking coffee, and spending time with her family and friends. She is based out of Davidson, North Carolina.

Roberta Sorensen is the Controller at College Advising Corps. She manages daily operations and recordkeeping of the finance department to support compliance with GAAP and federal Uniform Guidance regulations. In her role, Roberta also manages the audits and tax form preparation for the organization.

Roberta began her career as an analyst at CIGNA, and later found her niche in not for profit financial management. Prior to joining CAC in 2020, Roberta was the Comptroller at Rise Against Hunger where she managed the finance team of a multimillion-dollar international non-profit hunger relief organization for eleven years. Other work experiences that fueled her financial acumen included finance and HR positions at the NC State Chamber of Commerce, NCCBI and public accounting.

A native New Yorker, Roberta attended State University of New York majoring in journalism and business and relocated to North Carolina in the ‘90s. She spends her free time growing flowers and entertaining her three cherished Pomeranians.

Ryan Thompson is the Senior Chatbot Manager at College Advising Corps and brings more than 10 years of experience in numerous aspects of the technology space.

Prior to this role, Ryan was a Senior Artificial Intelligence Implementation Specialist for a Higher Education Tech company while living in Charlotte, North Carolina. While there, he built and fine-tuned a multitude of A.I. Chatbots for colleges and universities across North America.

Ryan’s work would help hundreds of thousands of students and families navigate various questions and issues pertaining to Admission, Financial Aid, Orientation, Housing, Campus resources, and more. He also worked cross-functionally in this role, partnering with other team members, project managers, developers, and University Faculty & Staff to test and refine the A.I. platform, ensuring its efficiency for the internal team and end-users alike.

Ryan is a former collegiate Track & Field athlete, winning conference titles in Triple Jump and the 4×4 during his tenure. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte along with a Mini-MBA in Social Media Marketing from Rutgers University business school.

Ryan currently resides in Baltimore, MD, and enjoys, exploring new places, most outdoor activities, and spending time with his family.