The University of Michigan’s Center for Educational Outreach (CEO) celebrates 15 years of enhancing access to college for Michigan students through its new publication, “Celebrating 15 Years of Educational Outreach.” The book chronicles CEO’s evolution since its 2009 inception and highlights its role as a key player in U-M’s K-12 engagement efforts. Featuring stories and reflections, it underscores the impact of CEO’s initiatives on thousands of students statewide.
Established in 2009, the CEO was driven by founding director William Collins and Lester Monts, then senior vice provost for academic affairs. The center was created to promote equity and broaden opportunities, enabling every learner to envision themselves on a college campus. “CEO’s unwavering work to partner directly with schools and coordinate campus resources has been a hallmark of U-M’s participation in strengthening a statewide ecosystem of educational opportunity,” said Angela Dillard, interim vice provost for access & opportunity and vice provost for undergraduate education.
Programs like Camp Kinomaage, Maximizing Academic Success, Rising Scholars, and College 101 served as essential platforms for students to discover their potential for higher education. Many participants credit these programs with inspiring their college aspirations. Current advisors for the Michigan College Advising Corps, CEO’s longest-running program, continue this legacy, impacting students’ educational journeys.
The center’s 15-year journey is rooted in the belief that education transforms lives and that access to opportunities can significantly alter a student’s future. The book captures this ethos through voices from students, advisors, and faculty, offering insights into the importance of equity-centered outreach. “This history is not just a record of what has been,” said Kim Lijana, CEO director. “It is a promise of what comes next.”
Today, CEO collaborates with schools, community organizations, and university units across all three campuses, reinforcing U-M’s commitment to K-12 outreach. The story of CEO, as depicted in the book, is ultimately about people who open doors and create pathways, enabling every student to see college as attainable and pursue it with confidence.
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