Work With
Our Scholars

FOR EMPLOYERS

Partnering with OMD to mentor, coach, and/or hire Chicagoland community college students can help solve hiring and workforce challenges, provide a measurable impact on our scholars, and support the overall economic strength of our city’s economy. 

A man and a woman stand at the podium and applaud

HIRE A SCHOLAR

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Hire a Scholar: Internships & Apprenticeships

Emerging evidence suggests that integrating career readiness and/or workplace-based learning opportunities during college improves persistence and completion.  

That’s why OMD has centered coaching, professional mentorship, and work-based learning/career readiness education in our model.

 

As part of this support, OMD partners with employers to provide enriching, challenging, and future-changing internships and apprenticeships for community college students. These programs help employers solve workforce challenges while giving valuable experiences to some of our city’s most promising talent. 

 

Fill out our interest form and start a conversation about how we can work together. 

COACH A SCHOLAR

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Coach a Scholar: Provide Professional Mentorship

OMD Coaches act as sounding boards, thought partners, and cheerleaders for OMD Scholars. A customized OMD Coaching partnership provides your organization’s staff with high-impact volunteer experiences that promote real change. 

 

By volunteering just a few hours at a time throughout the academic year, employees at your organization can make a lasting difference in a scholar’s life and career. OMD works with Chicagoland employer partners to recruit, train, and provide the tools for all coaches.  

 

Take the first step toward an impactful coaching partnership by filling out our interest form. 

Still have a question?

Get in touch with us to learn more about how you can get involved! 

David Scherer

David Scherer

One Million Degrees Co-founder 

David is principal of Origin, co-chairs the Investment Committee, and oversees investment analysis, acquisition and asset management. He has more than 20 years of experience in real estate investing, finance, and asset management. In 2006, he co-founded One Million Degrees, which has raised $20 million to help low-income community college students graduate and successfully enter the workforce. David has served as the organization’s Board Chair for the past 12 years, as the organization has grown from 30 to 1,000 students served per year. He also serves as the President of the Harvard Club of Chicago and is on the Advisory Board of Invest for Kids.  

Rose Lizarraga

Rose Lizarraga

OMD CO-Founder & President & CEO, Lysa LLC

An award-winning documentary filmmaker and freelance writer, Rose’s career also includes 10 years spent developing new product and brand strategies as well as marketing and advertising campaigns at Leo Burnett, Foote, Cone & Belding, M&M/Mars and other small businesses.  More recently, she worked as a writer/editor for Modern Luxury Inc., publishers of magazines such as CS and Angeleno.  Rose graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with dual degrees in English and Political Science.  She is a founding member of the Daniel M. Kerrane, Jr. Foundation, former Board Vice President of the Fairy Godmother Foundation, and currently serves on the Chicago committee for Human Rights Watch.

Michael B Golden

Michael B. Golden

One Million Degrees Co-Founder 

A former national award-winning broadcast journalist, Michael Golden has also served as a political campaign manager and communications strategist for U.S. Presidential, Senate and Congressional races. Michael is a fellow at the British-American Project and the Open Society Institute. In 1999, Michael’s investigative and public affairs reporting for NBC earned him honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, the AP, and the Edward R. Murrow Awards. In 2011, Michael co-founded Newsbound, Inc., a media and software company based in San Francisco, CA. He is also a co-founder of the Complete the Degree back-to-college initiative in Chicago, Illinois. Michael serves on the board of the ADL and on the governing board of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, as well as the Illinois Commission to Eliminate Poverty. He received his B.A. from Indiana University, and his M.S. in Public Services Management from DePaul University.