Women’s History Month: Ann Marano
Ann Marano has dedicated her life to helping students navigate their higher education journeys. She currently serves as the executive director of Colleges That Change Lives, a non-profit dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process. For the first 30+ years of her career, Ann worked in college admission counseling at several high schools, colleges, and universities helping an estimated 4,000 students get into college. Of those, she estimates 65% have been first-generation college students.
Ann was the second full-time full-time college counselor at Dallas ISD's Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School, the first all-girls public school in the state of Texas. Her position was made possible thanks to the magnet school having a partnership and sponsorship with the Young Women's Preparatory Network, a nonprofit that supports public schools for girls in collaboration with public school districts across Texas.
“I'm passionate about my work because I believe that higher education really is the key to everything. The key to better health, more choices in terms of how someone wants to spend their life, better civic engagement, stronger community connections, and financial stability,” shared Ann. “For a lot of people who don't grow up well-resourced, higher education can provide some definite financial and social capital, which is a game changer in the long run. I know what it did for me. And that inspired me and empowered me and kept me going to share that with other students and families and communities that traditionally may not have had access to higher ed or been encouraged to go for it.”
Many women have made an impact on Ann’s life including her grandmother, mother, aunts, cousins, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet who served as her teachers. One woman who inspired Ann early in her career was Linn Cauley who gave Ann her first counseling job. She was a “phenomenal mentor who taught me how to respect young people, listen to their origin stories, and to take those into consideration in our work. And that's a huge gift.”
Countless students that Ann has worked with have gone on to be leaders in community service and standing up for change. Ann shared she is inspired by, “those students who never cease asking the tough questions and pushing back against the power structure that wasn't built for them. And that says, No, you can't do that. They push back and say, Yes, we can. And we will.”
Ann with Karla Garcia at her graduation from UNC.
One of those students Is Karla Garcia, Senior Associate, College Readiness & Success at Dallas County Promise. Karla is a history maker herself as Dallas ISD’s youngest trustee and first Latina elected. Daughter of immigrant parents, Karla was the first in her family to graduate high school and have the opportunity to pursue a postsecondary education.
“Like many students and families, the dreams are there but the price tags are daunting,” shared Garcia. “Ms. Marano knew me well enough to encourage universities that weren’t on my college list. With the stars aligning (admission), the courage to try something new, and the finances working for my family I decided to attend the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill….I’m so grateful for Ms. Marano. Because at the juncture of college after high school everything could have turned out differently. Attending UNC changed me. I love where I am now.”
Without a doubt, Ann’s work is impacting lives and making history. “I'm a lucky person to have found something that I hope will create a ripple effect across generations and to have been connected to so many amazing people. And I'm very grateful to the students and families that have trusted me with their stories and their educational journeys over the years. I'm very, very blessed and it's a good day to say that you know that.”
