ECONOMIC MOBILITY SYSTEMS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Chief Operating Officer

Cornelia McCowan brings to EMS more than 20 years of experience in college and career readiness through various roles in higher education and K-12. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of College and Career Readiness in Grand Prairie ISD. Her career journey includes extensive experience helping first-generation students navigate and graduate from college, as Program Supervisor for the Academic Bridge Program at The University of Texas at Dallas. Prior to Grand Prairie ISD, she managed the College and Career Readiness Center in Lancaster ISD and served as a strategic educational program consultant to a variety of non-profit and faith-based organizations across Texas. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from The University Texas at Dallas and a master's degree in Higher Education Administration from Dallas Baptist University.

Job Titles:

• Manager of College and Career Solutions

Cornelia McCowan brings to EMS more than 20 years of experience in college and career readiness through various roles in higher education and K-12. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of College and Career Readiness in Grand Prairie ISD. Her career journey includes extensive experience helping first-generation students navigate and graduate from college, as Program Supervisor for the Academic Bridge Program at The University of Texas at Dallas. Prior to Grand Prairie ISD, she managed the College and Career Readiness Center in Lancaster ISD and served as a strategic educational program consultant to a variety of non-profit and faith-based organizations across Texas. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from The University Texas at Dallas and a master's degree in Higher Education Administration from Dallas Baptist University. She is the proud mother of Daniel and Taylor McCowan. Robert brings more than 16 years of in-depth experience in education technology, including expertise in Salesforce, to the EMS team. He comes to Commit and EMS with a great balance of experience with educational products, custom software development, data integrations, client-facing collaboration and management of technical resources. Over the years he has enjoyed learning new skills and implementing new software. He believes that technology will come and go but the vital need for student success will always remain. Prior to joining Commit, Robert gained diverse experience in education technology, having worked for a top community college, the largest higher education software company and an education focused non-profit startup. As a Certified Salesforce Administrator, Robert has worked with Salesforce to develop systems to assist students' transition from high school to and through college. A first generation American​, Robert grew up in the Houston area and received an Associate's degree in Application Programming from San Jacinto College.

Job Titles:

• Director of Regional Talent Networks / Student - Centered Pathways to College and Workforce Success

​ Her career has spanned working for Fortune 500 companies, higher education and start-ups, gaining diversified industry experience in higher education both on-campus and online, healthcare technology, medical devices & consumer products. She has completed public offerings, divestitures and acquisitions. As Founder and CEO of N-Vision Strategies, Nimisha has partnered with Economic Mobility Systems, Dallas County Promise, local colleges and universities and education technology companies to provide students and parents information and services that will help them enroll, persist and graduate from college, and enter the workforce with a living wage job. Prior to starting up N-Vision Strategies, Nimisha served as Chief Marketing Officer for IntelliCentrics, a healthcare technology company; as Vertical Chief for Healthcare at Academic Partnerships, an OPM for online higher education; and, as Vice President for Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She joined the medical center from ConvaTec, formerly a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, where she spent over a decade in a variety of management, marketing and communications leadership roles. Nimisha has a bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Villanova University. She also participates in Wharton Fellows and other executive education at the University of Pennsylvania.

Job Titles:

• Director of College and Career Solutions

Dr. Tonni Grant was born and raised Pine Bluff, AR. Her passion lies in helping students make informed decisions as they enter into their postsecondary journey. As a child she did not have that and slipped through the cracks. That's why she is driven to make sure every student is aware of what opportunities are available to them as they make important steps to become the future, not only today, but tomorrow. Prior to joining the Commit Partnership, her various educational experiences over the past 23 years have been in teaching, campus administration (both assistant principal and principal), and district leadership positions surrounding College Career and Military Readiness and academic advisement counseling support services. She also has experience in both technical and early college high schools. She has a bachelor's degree in biology from Grambling State University, a master's degree in educational leadership from Dallas Baptist University, and a doctorate in educational leadership at Tarleton State University. She is the proud wife of MSG Irving Grant with four children; Shawn, Nicole, Kasey, and Jalen. Jalen, the youngest, is a student at Texas Christian University where he is studying Business.

Job Titles:

• Executive Director
• Principal

Job Titles:

• Solutions Architect

Karen brings to EMS a passion for education that springs from her direct experience as an immigrant to the United States as well as a blend of grassroots community-building and state-level policy experience. As Manager of Partner Support, she is responsible for project management processes that are essential to supporting EMS' partnership programs and goals. Prior to joining Commit and EMS, Karen served as a Chief of Staff in the Texas House of Representatives, where she helped develop progressive policy around women's healthcare, education, immigration, juvenile justice and family issues. In this role, she played a key role in the passage of Texas House Bill 3005, which was developed to help immigrant families receive the right to an interpreter during child custody evaluations. Previously, Karen worked as a community organizer for Jolt Texas, a progressive organization in Texas, where she focused on creating networks of young people of color across the state to build collective voice, power, and influence through civic engagement. Born in northern Mexico and raised in Texas, Karen's experience as an immigrant navigating the American education system inspired her to focus her career on helping others like herself and hopes her experience in policy and community building can help pave the way to a more equitable world. Karen began her higher ed journey at Dallas College, and graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor's degree in Public Affairs & Community Service and a minor in Nonprofit Leadership.

Job Titles:

• Data Manager

Imran was born and raised in a small town in Central California. From an early age he experienced first-hand educational inequities in both resources and opportunities for students and has pursued opportunities over the years to work on closing these gaps. He joins EMS not only passionate about its work but also strongly committed to a data-driven approach to recognizing and helping students who may be at risk of falling through the cracks. He brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge in data systems including how to leverage Salesforce for student outcomes data. Prior to EMS he has worked in college access, microfinance, as well as on the corporate side doing media planning and strategy at a global media agency. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a minor in Sports Media Studies from the University of Southern California along with a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University. In his free time he is an avid sports fan, swimmer, and enjoys baking sweet treats for friends and family.

Job Titles:

• Manager of Partner Support

Job Titles:

• Chief Technology Officer / Design and Deliver Solutions That Matter

Job Titles:

• Founder and CEO of N - Vision Strategies
• Strategic Advisor
• Strategy and Marketing Executive

Nimisha is a strategy and marketing executive, specializing in education and healthcare. She has over 25 years of experience successfully building businesses and driving institutional results. Generating creative but practical solutions, she is recognized for successfully managing complex business models while ensuring an unrelenting student and client focus.

Job Titles:

• Director of Data and System Solutions

Job Titles:

• Strategic Advisor / Where College

Sarah Jensen has widespread experience as an education advocate and brings to the EMS team her dedication to expanding students' access to and success in postsecondary education. Prior to joining Commit and EMS, Sarah served as Research Analyst for the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI). In that role, she produced case studies highlighting the impact of NMSI's teacher professional development program on teacher practices and student performance. Sarah also provided analysis on trends, issues, and perspectives in education and published findings through print and online media. While in graduate school, Sarah interned for the Texas Senate Committee on Education and the Government Affairs division of UT Arlington. She was also a Graduate Intern for The Meadows Foundation in Dallas where she assisted in the foundation's strategic planning process. As the daughter of a middle school librarian and high school band director, Sarah grew up in a household of public school educators. Her own dedication to education was developed prior to graduate school during her time as an Admissions Representative for Texas Lutheran University counseling prospective students on admissions and financial aid. She continues to volunteer as