SOAR Staff
Meet the Staff of the SOAR Office
Ellen Judge-Gonzalez | Program Director
My commitment to supporting adult learners is both personal and professional. I have spent my career building programs and practices to help adult learners succeed—but my dedication to this work began long before I entered the field. I care deeply about helping adult learners succeed because I have walked that path myself. I was a first-generation college student who started at Henry Ford College, took time away to begin my family in California, and later returned to Michigan to finish my degree. I earned my BA in psychology at UM-Dearborn in 1995 while parenting young children. I did not grow up in a community where many people went to college, and I often felt uncertain about navigating higher education. Those early experiences shaped my perspective—and for me, education was truly transformative. It opened doors and built my confidence and resiliency.
When my children were in middle and high school, I went to graduate school. I studied at their sports events, asking my husband or friends to nudge me when they got the ball so I could cheer and then dive back into reading. Like many of the students I now work with, I learned to juggle family, school, and work one semester at a time.
Since 2008, I’ve led the SOAR program, which supports returning adult learners facing economic and systemic barriers. My work centers on building a welcoming, student-focused community. Under SOAR, we’ve grown enrollment, improved retention and graduation rates, and expanded relevant “curriculum to career” opportunities for adult learners.
Alongside my role in SOAR, I taught for 16 years as a lecturer in Language, Culture, and Communication and in Liberal Studies. One of the most meaningful courses I taught was a seminar for returning adult students—many restarting college after time away. Teaching while directing SOAR deepened my understanding of the academic and personal challenges adult learners often face.
On campus, I’ve worked on several initiatives to reduce barriers and improve access, including the Prison Education Working Group, CASL strategic planning, a university-wide subcommittee on student success, and the development of a nontraditional student–friendly integrative studies major. I’ve also shared SOAR’s equity-based practices at local and national conferences.
Starting in Fall 2025, I am excited to expand this work through the new Dearborn Adult Success Initiative, which will allow us to support even more adult learners across campus through coaching, outreach, and targeted programming.
Outside of work, I enjoy genealogy, native plant gardening, baking, cooking, travel, long walks, and time with family and friends.
Becky Richardson | SOAR Program Assistant
Becky Richardson returned to her education as an adult learner, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Sciences, and Women and Gender Studies, with a minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2018. As a student, Becky thrived as an assistant in the Women’s Prison Education Program, working with the women at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility for five years. She was a co-founder of the Association of Non-Traditional Students (ANTS), a student organization that supports non-traditional students, and currently serves as the staff advisor. As a student, Becky was named a Difference Maker, a MetroScholar, and was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society. Becky accomplished all of this while working full time, raising four daughters, and running her home. She has worked as the SOAR Program Assistant, supporting adult learners for over 10 years.
As the SOAR Program Assistant, Becky has been a pivotal part of hundreds of students' success stories with her natural, kind, and patient presence. She guides adult learners through their academic journey. Becky received the Outstanding Student Advocate award, and in 2024 she received the Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Becky was recently awarded the Unsung Hero Award by the Evon Price Memorial Foundation.
Elissa Gonzalez | Adult Learner Success Coach
Our Adult Learner Success Coach, Elissa Gonzalez, joins us as part of the Dearborn Adult Success Initiative, a grant-funded effort aimed at expanding support for returning adult learners. This initiative is housed in SOAR, which stands for Support, Opportunities, Advocacy, and Resources for adult learners. SOAR has been a small but mighty support program for adult learners on our campus for over 20 years. Now, with this new grant, we can serve a much larger number of adult learners with even more personalized support.
Elissa knows the power of support and the courage it takes to begin again because she's lived it. Elissa is a former SOAR student who returned to school as a single mother in a time of transition. She's a proud first-generation college graduate and understands the transformative impact of support, advocacy, and mentorship. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication with a Public Relations certificate from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where she was a dynamic presence across campus in various organizations. She served as the President of the Public Relations Student Society of America and the Special Events Coordinator of Women In Learning and Leadership. She was involved in various other campus organizations. After graduating, she explored various roles within her field and has identified the ideal role where she can be the most effective and fulfilled. With her long-standing experience and dedication to mentorship and advocacy, she will now empower adult learners through tailored coaching and holistic support.
At the University of Michigan-Dearborn, she found not only a degree but also her calling to uplift, advocate, and help others find their path. She believes every story matters and that when people are supported, they thrive. Elissa leads with heart and is passionate about connecting and helping others, with optimism, creativity, and innovation. Elissa finds genuine ways to connect and mentor. She initiated a college-wide mentorship program, which is still in operation today, through the Mentorship Collective. Today, she brings that same drive to her role as the Adult Learner Success Coach, helping students navigate challenges, unlock confidence, and thrive academically. She is driven by the belief that no dream is out of reach when students are seen, supported, and empowered.