We are passionate about helping community college students succeed.

Our mission

To inspire and support students to reach their academic and career goals, with a focus on first-generation and low-income community college students.

Solving the problem

Too many community college students are falling short of their education dreams. Half of students start their higher education at a community college. Nearly 70% drop out within 6 years.

Our approach

We use technology, and the latest research on behavioral nudges, to turn smartphones into cutting edge community college completion tools.

Get to know us.

Founder & CEO
Catalina ​Ruiz-Healy
​Prior to founding GradGuru, Catalina was founder & CEO of Catalista LLC, named one of Forbes Magazine’s “Top 10 Apps to Change the World”, and listed as USA Today’s “Best Apps of 2009.” Catalista is a mobile platform that enables users to find local volunteer opportunities in real-time, rate their experience, and track and share their good deeds. Catalina earned a Master of International Affairs at Columbia University, and a B.A. from Pomona College.
CTO
​Kioma Valenzuela Aldecoa
Before joining Gradguru in early 2017, Kioma spent eight years at [24]7 and Voxify where he managed an international software development team. Prior to this, Kioma held technical leadership positions including at NPC, which was involved in charitable giving; GeoSpot, which involved collaborative location services; and as a consultant for National Tribal Environmental Council, a nonprofit based in Albuquerque. He holds patents related to mobile application data exchange and conversational heuristics.
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Partner & Content Manager
​Hayley Rogers
Hayley comes to GradGuru with significant experience with providing outstanding customer support and has deep community and social services experience. Hayley is a first-generation college graduate. She attended Clark University in MA, and earned a B.A. in Psychology and English.

Board of Directors

  • Jonathan Kevles
    Renew Financial
  • John M. Rogers
    The Rise Fund
  • Jessie Ryan
    Campaign for College Opportunity

Advisors

  • Dr. Melinda Karp, Ph.D
    Center for Community College Research at Columbia University
  • Sam Mankiewicz
    Former CTO, Kiva.org    ​
  • Deborah Rappaport
    Rappaport Family Foundation
  • Dr. Fred Sherman, Ph.D
    Former Vice Chancellor of Technology, Foothill-DeAnza Community College District

How we got here.

What inspired us

In 2010, Catalina Ruiz-Healy, Founder & CEO of GradGuru, was spending a lot of time on community college campuses helping a foundation identify student grant recipients.

She was impressed by the students’ talent, capability, and most of all, their drive to complete their education despite some pretty challenging obstacles.

​The students’ personal stories, coupled with the alarming statistics of how few community college students reach completion and transfer to a four year institution, inspired her to do what she does best — figure out a technology solution to overcome the barriers.

​Catalina spent more than a year solely on user research, and understanding the problem, before launching GradGuru in 2012.    ​

Awards & Recognition

  • AT&T Aspire Accelerator​
  • Gates Foundation College Knowledge Challenge, Winner
  • Robin Hood College Success Prize, Semi-Finalist

Our Supporters

  • AT&T Aspire Accelerator​
  • ECMC Foundation
  • The James Irvine Foundation
  • Margoes Foundation
  • Robin Hood Foundation
  • Gates Foundation
  • San Francisco Foundation
  • College Futures Foundation 
  • Deborah & Andy Rappaport
  • ​Pacific Gas & Electric
  • Twilio.org
  • Walter S. Johnson Foundation
Community colleges are a great equalizer. They are full of highly motivated people, but the students may have challenges getting through because of a language barrier or skill gap. But it’s important that they stick through it. If they achieve an associate degree, they will earn $500,000 more over their lifetime. We want to help them get there!
Catalina Ruiz-Healy, Founder & CEO, GradGuru