Interview with Ellen Judge-Gonzalez, SOAR Director

Ellen Judge-Gonzalez
Ellen Judge-Gonzalez

“We provide a vessel for individuals who were on the path to success anyway to blossom and grow. To be part of the student’s success is really meaningful,” said Gonzalez. This grassroots program was initially known as Women on the Move in 1998 and was formatted as a full-day workshop. It allowed women in the community to receive information about college, different majors offered, financial aid, and the opportunity to attend mock lectures.

Although the variety and content of the one-day workshop was thorough, this didn’t suffice. It was apparent these women were facing economic challenges and other barriers to education and needed assistance on a long-term basis to ensure personal and academic success.

Therefore, Women on the Move morphed into the CASL College Option Program in 2000, but is now known as SOAR. It was a small, CASL exclusive program and eventually included the other academic units on campus. By 2007, the program was open to men as well.

Gonzalez knows from personal experience the life of a non-traditional student. The memories of making dinner, getting children to bed on time and then making coffee to stay awake to write a paper at ungodly hours is what made her know she had to apply for the position as the Director of SOAR when she saw the posting.

“It was like the hairs on the back of my neck stood up,” she said. “But, at first, I thought SOAR had to do with aviation,” Gonzalez said while laughing.

In essence though, the SOAR program has reflected its name and mimicked aviation by helping students to “soar” academically which has improved the overall program. SOAR connects with over 100 community agency partners and has an affiliation with Alpha Sigma Lambda, the oldest honor society for non-traditional students is the U.S. with over 300 chapters nationwide. Enrollment in the SOAR program has increased steadily by 40%. Students receive a tuition discount their first year and enroll in classes halftime, and a private donor helps with the cost of textbooks.

“We try to ease the financial burden in the first year so they can just acclimate to being a UM-Dearborn student,” said Gonzalez.

The SOAR program also hosts various annual events including the Welcome Reception for Students, during which time new students (mentees) get to meet their individual mentors who are seasoned SOAR students.

In the Fall, SOAR collaborates with African and African American Studies (AAAS) and Women and Gender Studies (WGST) to host a fancy hot chocolate bar. The “Show Me the Money” scholarship workshop is held in November, and “Surviving ‘til the End of the Semester” academic workshops are held to provide encouragement for students to endure the final few weeks of classes.

Two other major events include the Community Partner Luncheon and the Student Recognition Reception. The luncheon provides a relaxed setting for community partners to meet, and listen to current SOAR students speak about their experience in the program.

The Student Recognition Reception is a formal celebration for SOAR graduates and the campus community. SOAR graduates are allowed to invite family, friends, and faculty/staff to this event. At the 2017 reception there were 16 graduates and 170 guests. This event has grown rapidly since its inaugural year of 2009.

Gonzalez, who also loves teaching classes in the Language, Culture, and Communication Department enjoys collaborating with a variety of departments, offices, and programs within CASL and the University at-large for the SOAR program.

“It’s important to maintain and develop good relationships with people…we can’t advocate and make changes for the students if we don’t have good relationships with one another,” she said.

Many of Gonzalez’s treasured moments since directing the SOAR program are hallmarked by the students. She refers to herself as the “anxious big sister” and loves hearing back from her students who have exciting and positive news to share.

“There’s no level playing field,” she said. “And so if what we do here helps level the playing field to open up more opportunities for individuals to have the quality of life and education that so many of us take for granted and only have because we are privileged, then you couldn’t ask for a better job.”

- Leah Johnson