Cassy Castañón Technical Assistance Manager Excelencia in Education Email ccastanon@edexcelencia.org Current Position: Cassy serves as the Technical Assistance Manager as part of the Institutional Capacity team and is responsible for supporting and implementing institutes, pláticas, webinars, and tools for institutional teams to support their transformational progress to more intentionally serve Latino students. In addition, she coordinates the case management, informational methods, and strategies to assist institutions with improving access, retention, and completion of Latino students.Past Experiences: Cassy has dedicated her professional career to ensuring students have access to the information, tools, and support to ensure their educational success. After receiving her master’s degree in Library and Information Science, she worked at Reading is Fundamental, a literacy non-profit in DC, supporting schools and programs throughout the US, Puerto Rico and Guam. She also dedicated more than 10 years supporting foster youth with educational and housing needs at United Friends of the Children. As a coordinator, she supported the organization’s goal to bring college within reach for their students by securing event locations for college access workshops and other engagements and creating and maintaining various processes.Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia?Exclencia’s mission to accelerate Latino student success in higher education resonates with me. As a first-generation college student and granddaughter of farm workers, I recognize the important role education has played in my life which is why I have spent most of my career giving back to education in some capacity. Excelencia allows me to continue to do that by helping to SERVE Latino students.How would you describe working at Excelencia?Working at Excelencia is an amazing experience. I have exceptional coworkers who are dedicated to transforming higher education. Excelencia approaches everything with integrity and passion and allows me to continue to grow professionally.