Women Wednesday with Melissa Connelly
Reimagining What’s Possible for First-Gen Students
When the landscape of higher education feels more uncertain than ever, Melissa Connelly remains a steady force for equity, access, and opportunity. As the CEO of OneGoal, a national organization working to close the college access and success gap for students from low-income communities, she brings bold clarity to a conversation often shrouded in policy and statistics.
For Melissa, this work is deeply personal.
“What weighs most heavily on my heart,” she says, “is the sheer uncertainty students are facing.” From shifting admissions practices to the rollback of Affirmative Action and the disappearance of race-conscious scholarships, the road to higher education has grown increasingly complex. “Postsecondary planning should not be a test of a student’s resilience,” she insists. “It should be part of the system designed to support them.”
Under her leadership, OneGoal has pivoted from traditional programming to include coaching for school leaders and a national push to ensure that every student, regardless of race, zip code, or family background, has a clear and supported path beyond high school. Whether that path leads to a university, apprenticeship, or certificate program, the goal is the same: access, dignity, and success.
And the wins are real.
Take Andy, a first-generation student from Atlanta who earned the prestigious Dell Scholarship. His journey, shaped by his family’s sacrifices and OneGoal’s mentorship, became a beacon of hope for his younger sisters. “It’s shown them that it’s possible,” he said. “That someone who grew up just like them can achieve something big.”
It’s stories like Andy’s that remind Melissa why this work matters. “How could you talk to one of our students or educators and not walk away inspired?” she says. “Hope is not something I feel, it’s something I choose, again and again.”
At a time when opportunity gaps are widening, Melissa is challenging us all to take action: “We need to stop assuming students should be able to plan their futures on their own. Guidance is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.”
She wants colleges to do more, too — not just to be “college-ready,” but student-ready, meaning having culturally competent support, mental health access, and clarity around financial aid. “We’ve made progress,” she says, “but this moment calls for even more courage and accountability.”
For the students feeling discouraged, her advice is both affirming and practical: “You belong. And not just at the table, but in the community that helps you thrive. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Take up space.”
In Melissa Connelly’s world, hope isn’t passive. It’s a call to action, and every student deserves a champion to help them answer it.
