OneGoal Appoints Symone Morales as Executive Director for the Bay Area
Former Stanford University Leader to Spearhead Transformation of Postsecondary Advising and Support for Students in the Bay Area.
OAKLAND, Dec. 6, 2023 — Leading postsecondary advising and success organization OneGoal proudly announces the appointment of Symone Morales as its new executive director in the Bay Area.
Bringing a wealth of experience building and leading strategies to equitably support students from low-income communities in both K-12 and postsecondary sectors, Symone Morales assumes a pivotal leadership role at OneGoal. “My life’s work is to continue exposing the hidden curriculum in education so that all students know and feel that they have the power and choice to further their education,” said Symone.
Symone has dedicated her career to ensuring that underrepresented students have the resources to thrive in their postsecondary journeys and attain their college and career aspirations. Her most recent role was at Stanford University, where she served as Associate Dean of Students and Director of the First Generation and/or Low-Income Student Success Center. Notably, Symone played a crucial role in launching the First To Go program at UCLA in 2016, setting the stage for numerous first-generation initiatives across all ten University of California campuses.
Excitement surrounds Morales’ appointment as she joins the highly talented OneGoal team in the Bay Area. “I’m thrilled that Symone is joining our incredible team in the Bay Area,” said OneGoal CEO Melissa Connelly. “Together, they will continue to build coalitions and forge deep partnerships with districts, champions, and other community organizations to grow OneGoal’s impact throughout the Bay Area.”
Currently, OneGoal partners with five high schools across three districts in the Bay Area, serving 600 students this year and recruiting an additional 400 students for the program next year. In her new role, Symone will develop and execute a strategy for expanding OneGoal’s regional reach to benefit a larger student population. 79% of OneGoal high school graduates in the Bay Area enroll in a postsecondary institution, and 71% of those persist one year after High School graduation.
Symone, a first-generation college graduate, relates personally to OneGoal’s focus on equity in postsecondary access and success. Symone holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
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About OneGoal
OneGoal transforms postsecondary advising and support so that every student can define their own future. Together with our partners, we’re building a movement to close the opportunity gap. We work side-by-side with partner schools and districts to build their knowledge and capacity. The result is more equitable and effective support for all students. Our unique approach, honed over 15 years, prioritizes strong human relationships. And it’s proven to deliver real student impact. 82% of OneGoal high school graduates enroll in a postsecondary institution, and 73% of those who enroll persist one year after high school. An independent study by the University of Chicago found that OneGoal students are about 40% more likely to earn their postsecondary degrees than students from similar backgrounds.
For more information on OneGoal, contact Stephen Barker, OneGoal Director of Communications, at stephen.barker@onegoalgraduation.org, (316) 734-1042.