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About Us

We are committed to expanding student access and understanding of the college application process, building a diverse and empowered team of mentors and leaders, and deepening our community impact through strong partnerships with nonprofits and school districts

Who We Are

Take on College was founded in 2019 to provide mentorship for first-generation college students, addressing the lack of affordable guidance. With college counseling costing over $100 per session, the founders, as students themselves, sought to offer accessible support.​

Mission Statement

Take on College’s mission is to make higher education accessible to all through dedicated mentorship!​

Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commitment

Take on College works to nurture the learning and growth of our community of diverse mentors and mentees. We specialize in working with first-generation and low-income students, to bridge the access gap in higher education equity.

Board Members

Alan Hernandez

President
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Ngoc-Vy Mai

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Susana Wong Ordway

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Lily Steller

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Lisa Young

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Nick Tran

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Check Our Team!

Take on College is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit connecting high school mentees to undergrad mentors to remove the barriers to higher education.

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Hi, I’m Alan Nava, president of Take on College and a passionate advocate for advancing equity and opportunity. I’m currently pursuing a Master’s degree in User Experience/User Interface Research and Design at the University of Michigan School of Information, where I combine academic rigor with lived experience to inform my work.

As a first-generation migrant and college student, I earned my undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan, majoring in International Studies and minoring in Latinx Studies and Community Action and Social Change. These fields laid the foundation for my commitment to empowering marginalized communities through education and meaningful engagement.

Right now, I’m focused on leveraging technology to expand the reach and impact of justice-oriented initiatives—building tools and experiences that uplift and serve disenfranchised populations.

Outside of work, I practice mindfulness through meditation, yoga, and journaling. I also enjoy boxing, weightlifting, and relaxing with a good movie in my free time

Hi, I’m Ngoc-Vy—an immigrant, a first-generation high school graduate, and now a proud first-generation college graduate with a Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Washington, where I became a two-time Husky! As the eldest daughter in a low-income, single-parent household, I’ve overcome many challenges navigating the world of higher education.

Along the way, I’ve gained valuable experience with scholarships and grants, FAFSA applications, and balancing school, work, and life. I’m passionate about sharing what I’ve learned and giving back to students who come from similar backgrounds.

Currently, I serve as the Community Health Care Coordination Manager at Project Access Northwest, where I help underserved communities access essential health care and related services. I also proudly serve as the DEI Vice-Chair for the American College of Healthcare Executives, advocating for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the health care space.

In my free time, I love taking walks with my husband, Conner, and our two dogs, Coco and Louis

Hello, I’m Susanna. I immigrated from Hong Kong to the U.S. as a child and became the first in my family to attend college and earn a master’s degree—earning my B.A. from Pomona College and my M.B.A. from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. Driven by a deep commitment to community service, I’ve spent many years volunteering locally and, in 2018, expanded that service by joining the Board of Education for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’m honored to be the first and only AANHPI elected in SRVUSD’s history, and I proudly served as Board President in 2021.

Currently, I serve on several Executive Boards, including the API School Board Members Association, the Tri-Valley Chapter of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA), and the San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs. I’m also an active member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and its Western affiliate (WACAC), where I work to uphold ethical standards in the college admissions process.

In my professional practice as an Independent Educational Consultant, I guide high school students and their families through the complexities of college admissions to help them find their best-fit schools. I’m thrilled to join the Board of Take on College and continue supporting students in reaching their post-high school dreams.

My name is Lily and I am originally from San Diego, California. I moved to Tacoma, WA for college at the University of Puget Sound where I studied Business Administration and International Political Economy. After graduating in May, I started working as an Admission Officer for Puget Sound. I love the Pacific Northwest and being outdoors, eating good food with friends, and traveling! I am excited to be a part of TakeOnCollege and share expertise on college applications and admissions.

Hi, I’m Lisa Young, a proud Washington native who earned my BS in Biology and BA in Psychology from the University of Washington. I’m currently a fourth-year medical student at Johns Hopkins. As a low-income student myself, I’m deeply passionate about promoting accessibility and inclusion for first-generation and low-income students in academic spaces. Outside of medicine, I love spending time in nature—whether it’s hiking, swimming in oceans and lakes, or going for a run to unwind.

Hi, I’m Nick, a recent graduate with a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. I’m a huge airplane nerd, engineer, and flight instructor. When I’m not working, I try to travel as much as possible – I’ve been to 45 countries so far!