Peak Education Presenting at NACAC: "Reimagining Partnerships in College & Career Readiness"
- Tabitha Hart
- Sep 19
- 3 min read
September 19, 2025
Carlos Jiménez, CEO, Peak Education (Colorado Springs, CO)
Pedro Ramírez, Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives, Peak Education (Colorado Springs, CO)
Rachel Livingston, Chief Program Officer, Fulfillment Fund (Los Angeles, CA)
Greg McCandless, Executive Director, UP RVA (Richmond, VA)
At this year’s NACAC Conference, a powerful panel came together to spark a conversation higher education can’t afford to ignore:
Understanding CBO Landscapes: The Foundation for Effective Partnerships & Trust
The session featured:
Carlos Jiménez, CEO, Peak Education (Colorado Springs, CO)
Pedro Ramírez, Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives, Peak Education (Colorado Springs, CO)
Rachel Livingston, Chief Program Officer, Fulfillment Fund (Los Angeles, CA)
Greg McCandless, Executive Director, UP RVA (Richmond, VA)
Together, these leaders—each with deep roots in both admissions and community-based organizations (CBOs)—offered a timely blueprint for reimagining how higher ed partners with communities.
The Reality We’re Facing
Fewer than 1,000 CBOs for 3,900+ colleges: CBOs are stretched thin even as demand for their expertise grows.
Under-resourced students, overextended systems: Many schools operate with thin counseling support, leaving first-generation and low-income students without guidance.
Regional barriers: In Colorado Springs, one district sees only 38% of seniors matriculate to any college—with fewer than 25% continuing to a four-year option.
Post-SCOTUS climate: With DEI frameworks under attack, CBOs have become critical partners in ensuring equity—even as political pressures intensify.
What Authentic Partnership Looks Like
The panel emphasized that real collaboration goes far beyond transactional outreach.
Strong partnerships require:
Power-sharing & decision-making
Carlos Jiménez shared how Peak Ed’s concurrent enrollment partnership worked because higher ed leaders listened to CBO feedback—and made systemic improvements as a result.
Resource equity & compensation
Rachel Livingston highlighted how Fulfillment Fund partnered with Cal State LA to address increasing student support and persistence, showing how universities and CBOs can invest resources together for mutual benefit.
Mutual benefit & sustainability
Pedro Ramírez described how direct admission initiatives and FAFSA support can create early wins for students while helping institutions meet enrollment goals.
Cultural humility & responsiveness
Greg McCandless underscored that partnerships must reflect an understanding of families’ lived realities—such as creating early exposure opportunities to build trust long before the college transition.
Frameworks for Change
From lived experience and national research, the panel introduced seven key vectors for evaluating partnership strength:
Power-sharing and decision-making
Resource equity and compensation
Credit and recognition
Mutual benefit and sustainability
Cultural humility and responsiveness
Data ownership and usage
Conflict resolution and accountability
These frameworks help institutions move from surface-level collaboration to truly transformative partnership.
Why This Matters
CBO–higher ed partnerships deliver results:
A 40% increase in FAFSA completions in one embedded district (Harrison School District 2 in Colorado Springs), compared to next highest completion was at 22% in Colorado Springs region.
Direct admissions offers that give students an early “yes” and the confidence to see themselves in college.
Regional college and career pipelines that prepare students for college and strengthen the local workforce. (Innovate Pikes Peak)
The Bottom Line
As Rachel, Greg, Carlos, and Pedro reminded NACAC attendees: partnerships with CBOs are not charity—they’re strategy.
Together, we can dismantle barriers, build authentic trust, and expand opportunity for the students who need it most.
✨ If you’re ready to rethink partnership in the college access space, let’s connect.
Press Inquiries & Additional Information Contact: Tabitha Hart | Marketing and Communications Manager
tabitha@peakedu.org | 719-460-2365
