Who we are
Collaborative leadership.
At the head of MinnesotaCAN are 3 experienced leaders supported by staff who come prepared with diverse strengths to create a well-rounded approach to facilitating collaboration, furthering practitioner education, as well as coordinating advocacy for our members.
Leadership
Caitlyn (she/her/hers) came to Achieve Twin Cities via College Possible, where she held a number of positions, including AmeriCorps College Possible high school coach, senior program coordinator, and program manager, in which she managed a team and oversaw financial aid, scholarships, enrollment, student recruitment and strategic program adjustments.
Caitlyn brings extensive college access and success knowledge, an eye for ensuring that systems are equitable to meet the needs of program participants and a great background in management. She knows what it takes to build and coach a team to support students in their post-secondary journeys. Caitlyn is committed to anti-racism work and advancing racial equity in all education spaces
A first-generation college graduate, Caitlyn earned her degree in psychology from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where she also played women’s soccer. Outside of work she enjoys reading, trying new breweries and restaurants, traveling, house DIY projects with her partner and taking care of her golden retrievers, Napa and River.
Caitlyn Cole - Director of Program at Achieve Twin Cities
Area of focus: Collaboration & Alignment
Shannon Oldenburg - Director of Strategic Partnerships at Wallin Educational Partners
Area of Focus: Funding and Professional Development
As Director of Strategic Partnerships at Wallin Education Partners, Shannon Oldenburg (she/her/hers) leads and develops initiatives, partnerships, and programming that are in line with Wallin’s strategic plan to increase scholars served and deepen the programming offered. She collaborates with key community and employer partners to ensure wrap-around student support and helps facilitate cross-team communication to make progress toward our strategic goals.
Shannon has spent most of her career in education through building scalable partnerships and programming that center student success. She joins Wallin after working at College Possible for nearly a decade where she launched and stewarded state-wide programming to support over 1000 students and 40 high school partnerships. Shannon earned her BA in Literature and Writing and spent the first part of her career as a high school English teacher and relishes moments she gets to spend with students again.
She enjoys anything outside, bringing people together over good food and discovering the world in new ways through her two young boys.
BG Tucker - Executive Director at College Possible Minnesota
Area of focus: Advocacy & Operations
BG’s career in education began with Teach For America, where she taught Spanish to students in kindergarten through eighth grade in Gary, Indiana. She later became a founding college counselor at KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate in Massachusetts, eventually serving as its Director of College Counseling. After relocating to London, BG expanded her expertise into the international landscape, providing specialized U.S. admissions counseling for students navigating global educational transitions. Upon returning to Minnesota in 2018, she served as the Director of College and Career Counseling at Venture Academies before joining College Possible as the Sr. Director of Program Operations.
Now, as Executive Director, BG is dedicated to supporting access to higher education. She focuses on creating inclusive environments within College Possible and the broader educational landscape, emphasizing the importance of purposeful interventions for first-generation college students and working to dismantle systemic inequities in education.
BG holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies from Carleton College and an M.A. in Higher Education Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development from the University of Minnesota. She resides in Minneapolis with her husband, Sam, and their two sons, Mac and Jack. Her personal and professional experiences fuel her dedication to ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has the resources and support they need to succeed in the higher education landscape.
Her personal and professional experiences fuel her dedication to ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has the resources and support they need to succeed in the higher education landscape.
Staff
Katelyn Grantz - Membership & Engagement Specialist
AmeriCorps VISTA
Who is in the Network:
Want to join the network?
MinnesotaCAN is a strong fit for organizations that:
Provide college access, success, or persistence coaching
Value equity, collaboration, and student voice
Want to stay informed and aligned in a changing landscape
Believe collective impact is essential to student success
From executive leadership to counselors and advisors - we look forward to having you in our network!
