Become an OMD coach

By volunteering just a few hours a month, you can make a lasting difference in a scholar’s life and career. OMD provides the training and tools for coaches to effectively support our hardworking scholars. 

 

Our 2025-26 school year coaching application is open so apply today!

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One Million Degrees    Thank you for your interest in OMD coaching!

This application is for new coaches interested in the 2025-26 school year. Once you’ve completed it, we’ll reach out directly with next steps.

If you have questions, reach out! Our coach coordinators are happy to help.

We can’t wait to work with you! 

If you're already a coach, have coached before, or are looking to coach Teaching Chicago Tomorrow (TCT) scholars, you don’t need to fill out this application. Instead, email coach@onemilliondegrees.org to get started.  


The Basics
















How much time do you have to coach?

The primary responsibility OMD coaches have is to attend five in-person, two-hour Scholar Development Sessions (SDS), held Saturday mornings at City College of Chicago campuses throughout the city.

This is where you'll connect with OMD Scholars and provide hands-on mentoring and guidance, so OMD asks coaches to attend all SDS dates.

Dates are still pending, but these sessions will take place in October, November, January, March, and May. 

   
We get it! Scheduling can be tricky. OMD also hosts career panels for scholars, where professionals share their career guidance and expertise with groups of second year scholars.

Great! You can learn more and submit a career panel interest form on our website! We'll be in touch with more information.  
Where would you like to coach?
   

OMD coaches attend Saturday morning events at one of City Colleges of Chicago’s campuses, and we’ll do our best to place you at your preferred location.


Each campus has a unique industry focus—called a Center of Excellence—with many students pursuing related fields of study. As you rank your preferences, consider both the campus location and its focus area.


City Colleges’ Centers of Excellence:

  • Malcolm X: Healthcare Education

  • Harry Truman: Education, Human & Natural Sciences

  • Harold Washington: Business and Professional Services

  • Olive-Harvey: Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

  • Kennedy-King: Culinary & Hospitality, Construction Technology

  • Richard Daley: Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing


If proximity is your top priority, choose the campus that’s easiest for you to reach.



Please rank your first location preference below. 




Tell us a little more about yourself.


















Example: Originally from Iowa, Anne moved to the Chicago area in 2014 to participate in an Americorps program. Currently, Anne serves as a Finance Manager for One Million Degrees, a non-profit organization in Chicago that supports community college students. When not working, Anne enjoys running, playing soccer, and exploring new restaurants in the city.






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David Scherer

David Scherer, Treasurer

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.