The Detroit College Access Network (DCAN) has named Cyekeia Lee as its new executive director. Lee, a Detroit-area native, will officially step into the role on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. Interim Executive Director Onjila Odeneal will resume her role as deputy director.
DCAN is a collective impact model nonprofit working with local schools, foundations and the greater community to promote higher education in Detroit and make a college degree or credential a reality for students. Its mission is to increase college enrollment and graduation rates. Founded in 2014, DCAN is part of the Michigan College Access Network.
Most recently, Lee served as the director of community collaboration at The Kalamazoo Promise, an award-winning initiative to pay up to 100% of tuition and fees for graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools to attend any in-state public community college or university.
“Having a postsecondary degree or credential is one of the best ways to set up Detroit youth for long-term prosperity. I am passionate about building a college-going culture that serves ALL Detroit students,” said Lee.
“Now, more than ever, we cannot just prepare young people for their first job; we must prepare them to confidently choose from and succeed in a broad range of paths to meaningful, living-wage work and remain resilient lifelong learners who can navigate job changes,” said Ashley Aidenbaum, program officer at The Skillman Foundation and chair of DCAN’s executive committee.
Prior to her time with the Kalamazoo Promise, Lee was the executive director of The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo, where she had the opportunity to work with cross-sector partners to explore community collaboration efforts for students in Kalamazoo County. Additionally, she has served as the director for higher education initiatives with the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, where she worked to streamline higher education access for students experiencing homelessness in 25 states. Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree in counseling education from Wayne State University.
“DCAN is a relatively young nonprofit that has made important strides in providing more guidance and support to Detroit students through its partners. Given Lee’s experience, we are confident she will lead our board, staff and all our partners to DCAN’s next edge,” said John Ambrose, executive director of admissions at Michigan State University and chair of DCAN’s search committee.
“This work is vital and cannot be done without incorporating input from schools, community partners, families, and—most importantly—students. I look forward to working with the greater community to help students access meaningful college and career opportunities,” Lee said.
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