Strengthening Our Mission
A Note from Our Executive Director
Dear Friends,
Our organization has never been stronger or more committed to the students it serves, and I’m proud of the growth and stability we’ve built over the past six years.
What began as three co-founders helping 10 low-income students apply to college has grown into a team of 10 dedicated staff members and more than 100 volunteers preparing to support approximately 200 students throughout the coming academic year.
This year also marks a special milestone—we’ve hired our first Mission Scholars graduate as a full-time Program Coordinator, fulfilling a dream we had when we first founded this organization. It’s a powerful, full-circle moment that reminds us why this work matters and how lasting its impact can be.
We’re also strengthening our foundation for the future by building an incredible board of passionate, committed leaders, welcoming two new board members this year who bring fresh energy and expertise to our mission forward.
This growth is a testament to what’s possible when a community that believes in these students comes together to invest in their futures. Thank you for standing with us, believing in our mission, and helping us continue to open doors of opportunity for the students we serve.
With gratitude,
Cassie Lancaster,
Executive Director
Building Our Leadership for Impact
Two New Board Members Join Mission Scholars
We’re thrilled to welcome two extraordinary leaders to the Mission Scholars Board of Directors: Estefania Contreras and Susan McMillan. Both have been deeply connected to our mission from the very beginning, and their expertise, passion, and lived experiences will help strengthen our organization as we continue to grow and serve more students. We’re deeply grateful for their commitment to our mission.
Q&A
WITH ESTEFANIA CONTRERAS
BOARD MEMBER
Estefania has been an integral part of Mission Scholars since its inception. As an early advisor, she played a critical role in shaping and strengthening our College Success program. Drawing from her finance background, she helped build our original financial aid comparison tool—still used today to help families clearly understand and compare college financial aid packages. A graduate of UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Estefania is now the Senior Director of Finance at Tegria and serves on the Advisory Council for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.
Board Chair Chris Bruzzo shared: “Estefania joining the board is a natural move for Mission Scholars. She has been deeply involved from day one as an advocate, a mentor to our scholars, and a counselor to our founders.As a board director, we are recognizing her critical contributions and will benefit greatly from her financial, strategic, and operational expertise.”
Q: What inspired you to join the Mission Scholars Board?
A: The founders behind Mission Scholars were the same individuals who supported my college journey—before the organization even formally existed. Without them, I wouldn’t have had the guidance or career exposure that shaped my early path. Mission Scholars has my heart—it’s earned the hearts of students, their families, and our broader community.
Q: What are you most excited to contribute as a board member?
A: I look forward to building the support and infrastructure needed for the organization’s long-term success, and encouraging everyone to get involved—whether by volunteering, mentoring, connecting career opportunities, or investing in the organization.
Q: What are you most looking forward to as Mission Scholars evolves?
A: The conversation around college and success is shifting with every student who completes the program. That change doesn’t stop at the student’s front door—it reaches their families, their classmates, their communities. Our scholars are catalysts for growth, and Mission Scholars invests in exactly that.
FUN FACT:
“I plan entire trips around where I’m going to eat. Also, I get way too excited about Excel shortcuts.”
Q&A
WITH SUSAN MCMILLAN
BOARD MEMBER
Susan McMillan brings a wealth of nonprofit leadership and financial expertise to her new role on the board. After two decades in New York’s investment banking world at Credit Suisse and CitiGroup/Smith Barney, Susan relocated to Santa Barbara in 2012, where she quickly became a dedicated community leader. She was a founding board member of the Wolf Museum of Exploration & Innovation (MOXI) and has served on the boards of Crane Country Day School, Angels Foster Care, and the Hope Ranch Board of Directors. A steadfast supporter of Mission Scholars since our earliest days, Susan mentored students as a College Coach and guided Scholars through the summer internship process, deepening her connection to our mission long before joining the board.
Board Chair Chris Bruzzo reflected on her appointment: “As an early-stage, independent nonprofit, we identified governance expertise as a crucial skill-set for our board. Susan has governance experience in spades from her early work with other local nonprofits. She will lead our governance committee, ensuring the long-term stability and viability of Mission Scholars, especially critical given the seven-year commitment we make to each student we support. Susan began as a Mission Scholars College Coach and mentor, cementing her love for our work. We are thrilled to have such a deeply respected community leader in Susan join our leadership team.”
Q: What inspired you to join the Mission Scholars Board?
A: My personal experiences deeply resonate with Mission Scholars’ goal to empower bright, underserved students throughout their collegiate journey. Growing up in a rural community in New Mexico, I saw firsthand how mentorship and support can be life-changing. Watching students overcome adversity and achieve their dreams instilled in me a desire to make a similar impact on future generations.
Q: What are you most excited to contribute as a board member?
A: I’m thrilled to contribute my knowledge of board governance, policy creation, and strategic planning to the Mission Scholars team. I’m equally passionate about championing the organization’s cause within our community, as its mission aligns closely with my core values and personal convictions.
Q: What are you most looking forward to as Mission Scholars evolves?
A: As Mission Scholars expands, so too does the number of local youth who benefit from our services. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for these remarkable young people.
FUN FACT:
“One of my first jobs was as a ranch hand at a large cattle ranch in southeastern New Mexico. I started as a junior cowhand, helping with gathering and sorting the herd and washing dishes during roundup.”
Expanding Our Team
Two New Staff Members Join Mission Scholars
KRISTINE CARRILLO
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
We are thrilled to reintroduce Kristine Carrillo, the first Mission Scholar to become a full-time employee, and the first to graduate from Brown University. Kristine personifies the heart of our mission—proving what’s possible when opportunity meets determination. She is deeply committed to educational equity and has already made her mark through roles at the New England Board of Higher Education and Brown University, where she served as an administrative assistant, course developer, and research assistant in the Education Department.
In her new role, Kristine ensures that Scholars receive the guidance, mentorship, and resources they need to thrive in college and beyond, supporting our three signature programs: College Access, Affordability, and Success. She also leads the onboarding and training of our dedicated volunteers—bringing firsthand insight to their important work supporting our programs.
Kristine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education and International Affairs from Brown University, where she conducted her senior thesis titled “Bridging the Gap: The Impact of College Access and Success Intervention Programs on First-Generation and Low-Income Students.” We are proud to have her as a colleague at Mission Scholars, where she continues to inspire new scholars and strengthen our programs.
BETH SULLIVAN
OPERATIONS MANAGER
We are excited to welcome Beth Sullivan to the team as our new Operations Manager. At Mission Scholars, Beth ensures the smooth functioning of our nonprofit’s daily operations, designing and enhancing systems to maximize efficiency within the organization. She brings extensive experience in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and corporate strategy.
Her career highlights include launching the Homepoint Foundation, where she developed scholarship programs for first-generation college students and led community engagement initiatives, later serving as Chief of Staff to the CMO. Earlier in her career, she led the global foundation efforts at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. In addition to her role at Mission Scholars, Beth also serves as Executive Director of Coast Village Association.
Beth moved to Santa Barbara during the pandemic to build a life of purpose in this welcoming community. We look forward to Beth helping Mission Scholars grow and thrive through her strategic leadership and deep commitment to our mission.
As we continue to grow, we’re deeply grateful to have you with us. Your support helps us expand our programs and reach more students across our community.
Thank you for helping us achieve our mission.