announcement

Attend the Gala
Attend the Gala
View 20 years of success here

OMD IS ROOTED
IN RESEARCH

We’ve pursued rigorous external research and evaluation of our program. To evaluate our impact, we embarked on a randomized control trial (RCT) study with the University of Chicago’s Inclusive Economy Lab in 2017, finding that OMD scholars are:

READ OUR RESEARCH RESULTS

73%

More likely to earn a degree

70%

More likely to enroll
in community college

94%

More likely to persist from

the fall to spring semesters 

RESEARCH

24 APR 26
 

Cultivating Student Success in Community College

Seven- and eight-year findings show that wraparound student support through the One Million Degrees–City Colleges of Chicago partnership drove higher graduation rates, stronger career outcomes and increased earnings

READ MORE
11 MAR 26
 

New Study: Chicago-Based Program Drove Significant Gains in Graduation Rates and Career Outcomes for Community College Students

Seven- and eight-year findings show that wraparound student support through the One Million Degrees–City Colleges of Chicago partnership drove higher graduation rates, stronger career outcomes and increased earnings

READ MORE

JUN 2022

Supporting Community College Student Success: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial

One Million Degrees is in the third year of a randomized controlled trial led by the University of Chicago Urban Labs. The study is evaluating whether OMD’s holistic support system…

READ MORE

FEB 2021

Beyond a Degree: Identity Development and Community College Student Success

One Million Degrees is in the third year of a randomized controlled trial led by the University of Chicago Urban Labs. The study is evaluating whether OMD’s holistic support system…

READ MORE

FEB 2021

“Different Stories, Same Path”: Alumni Reflections on the One Million Degrees Experience

One Million Degrees is in the third year of a randomized controlled trial led by the University of Chicago Urban Labs. The study is evaluating whether OMD’s holistic support system…

READ MORE

SEP 2020

One Million Degrees Focus Group Findings Study

One Million Degrees is in the third year of a randomized controlled trial led by the University of Chicago Urban Labs. The study is evaluating whether OMD’s holistic support system…

READ MORE

MAY 2019

Increasing Academic Progress among Low-Income Community College Students: Early Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial

One Million Degrees is in the third year of a randomized controlled trial led by the University of Chicago Urban Labs. The study is evaluating whether OMD’s holistic support system…

READ MORE
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.