Erin Wheeler
Executive Director
College Beyond
Erin Wheeler, Ph.D., is Executive Director of College Beyond, a New Orleans-based nonprofit whose mission is to help students get to and through college. A native of Amite, LA, and a first-generation college graduate, Erin earned a B.S. in biology from Southeastern Louisiana University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in STEM Education from Southern University and A&M College. With nearly 15 years of experience, Dr. Wheeler has leveraged her knowledge of STEM education, cognitive science, student development, teaching and learning, entrepreneurship, management, and leadership to help improve college completion rates for 1st-generation students.
Overview
Although the Greater New Orleans region has logged important economic gains, continued growth is hindered by the racial wealth gap, high poverty rates, and deep cuts to higher education. Nearly half of Southeast Louisiana students come from a household that experiences material hardship and food insecurity. College Beyond helps underserved students in the Greater New Orleans Area thrive in college by building social, cultural, and economic capital through holistic success coaching and small-dollar financial support. EdLoC x NKH funding will help launch their SNAP liaison program, a student-created initiative to support peers through the SNAP application process, and provide monthly food stipends to food-insecure, first-year college students.
