Celebrating an Exciting New Chapter for Aneesh Sohoni and OMD

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13 Jan 25
Celebrating an Exciting New Chapter for Aneesh Sohoni and OMD

On behalf of the One Million Degrees (OMD) Board of Directors, we are sharing the bittersweet news that our CEO, Aneesh Sohoni, is transitioning out of his role as CEO of One Million Degrees to take on the position of CEO at Teach For America.

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27 Sep 24
Fostering economic mobility benefits all Chicagoans

Crains Chicago Business – A co-authored op-ed by Andrea Saenz, President and CEO of Chicago Community Trust, and OMD CEO Aneesh Sohoni about why fostering economic mobility is a city-wide issue, and one that OMD impacts positively.

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24 Jul 24
Why corporate America has much at stake – and much to learn – from community colleges

Working Nation – Deloitte Consulting Principal Roy Matthew and OMD CEO Aneesh Sohoni address how and why community colleges are an untapped pipeline to help solve workforce issues.

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10 Jul 24
Empowering Community College Students with One Million Degrees

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast – OMD CEO Aneesh Sohoni discusses the comprehensive support model of One Million Degrees and emphasizes the importance of community colleges in today’s educational landscape.

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24 Jan 24
Mentorship will level the playing field for underserved learners

University Business – An op-ed where OMD CEO Aneesh Sohoni writes about how mentorship and coaching impacting his education, and why coaching is an integral part of the OMD model.

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1 Nov 23
In a Post-Affirmative Action Landscape, Community Colleges Play an Outsized Role

DIVERSE: Issues in Higher Education – OMD CEO Aneesh Sohoni’s thoughts on the important role of community colleges in a post-Affirmative Action world.

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11 Oct 23
The student success dividend: Colleges that double down on their students will thrive in the long-term

Community College Daily – An op-ed authored by OMD CEO Aneesh Sohoni and Dr. Chris Reber, president of Hudson County Community College in New Jersey.

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17 Aug 23
City Colleges of Chicago Expands One Million Degrees Support Program to Malcolm X College

DIVERSE: Issues in Higher Education – Coverage of OMD’s expansion into the City Colleges of Chicago’s Malcolm X campus

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30 May 23
Despite public skepticism, higher education can still change lives for generations to come

The Hechinger Report – OMD CEO Aneesh Sohoni writes his thoughts on why college still matters.

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17 May 23
The ‘Second City’ looks to be first in student supports

Workshift – Higher Ed reporter Ed Fain talks to OMD CEO Aneesh Sohoni about the impact OMD’s expansion with City Colleges of Chicago has on students.

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8 May 23
Beth Swanson and Water Massey: Nonprofit is helping City Colleges of Chicago students make it to the finish line

The Chicago Tribune – An op-ed written by OMD supporters about the impact the support model has on community college studetns.

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4 May 23
A Boost for Chicago’s Neediest Students

The Hechinger Report – A piece that describes the city-wide impact of the OMD support model.

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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.