Over the past 40 years, I have been deeply committed to ensuring that young people feel supported and empowered as they navigate their educational journeys. As the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at Santa Fe College, I aim to show up every day for students in various meaningful ways. That is one of the reasons I became involved with The Neurodiversity Alliance as a Board Director—I want to continue my advocating and support for students with diverse learning needs, ensuring they have the agency, resources, accommodations, and community they deserve.

A year ago, as a Board Member of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation and The Neurodiversity Alliance, I witnessed a meaningful milestone—the Foundation’s decision to provide a game-changing grant to support the ND Alliance. This partnership grew from a shared commitment to creating inclusive environments where all students, including neurodivergent individuals, can thrive and prepare for bright futures.

The ND Alliance’s innovative work in building a strong support network for neurodivergent students stood out at a time when more neurodiverse students were embracing their identity in postsecondary environments; something I see every day with my work in higher education in general and at Santa Fe College in particular. The ND Alliance’s creative programs address real challenges this community faces. What resonated most was the organization’s focus on helping young people develop agency, foster belonging, and embrace their unique strengths. We know belonging is key to success for neurodiverse students in postsecondary education.

Thanks to the Johnson Scholarship Foundation’s grant, the past year has seen impressive progress. The funding supported the expansion of the ND Alliance Portal—a vibrant space for students to connect, share experiences, and access resources. It also powered new workshops on college retention strategies and career readiness through Campus Clubs while maintaining the original Eye to Eye Mentoring program, which the Foundation first funded back in 2007. Their Student Ambassadors speak nationwide, sharing their stories and experiences, and many more are now student leaders. We invite you to read about each of these programs here. Please inquire for more information if you’d like to bring programming to your school and students!

As someone fortunate to serve on both boards, I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve achieved together. The progress of The Neurodiversity Alliance shows the incredible resilience and brilliance of neurodivergent students when given the right support. The Johnson Scholarship Foundation remains dedicated to championing educational equity and inclusion through its mission to help people prepare for and obtain a college degree.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to see how this partnership continues to grow, leaving a lasting legacy of empowerment and opportunity for neurodivergent students.