We have exciting news to share! Detroit College Access Network is thrilled to announce our new Executive Director, Cyekeia Lee. She will assume the role on February 1, 2022. Onjila Odeneal stepped in as interim executive director in June of 2021 and will resume her critical role as deputy director. We want to applaud and celebrate Onjila's exemplary service to DCAN.
Cyekeia Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree in counseling education from Wayne State University.
At her most recent position, she held the role of director of community collaboration at The Kalamazoo Promise, an award-winning initiative to provide up to 100% of tuition and fees paid for students from the Kalamazoo Public Schools at any in-state public community college or university.
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.
“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.
John Ambrose, director of admissions at Michigan State University and chair of DCAN’s search committee said, "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."
DCAN warmly welcomes Cyekeia to the network and looks forward to her leadership!
