The Partnership for College Completion is pleased to welcome Rebecca Popelka and Michael Nearpass to the organization’s team, and celebrate the promotion of Paola Salgado.
Popelka and Nearpass both joined the organization in January 2026, taking on roles as the Director of Institutional Partnerships and Development Manager, respectively. Salgado’s promotion to Policy and Advocacy Analyst comes after two years with the organization.
Rebecca Popelka – Director of Institutional Partnerships
Rebecca Popelka joined PCC in January 2026 as the Director of Institutional Partnerships, bringing over 20 years of experience in the higher education industry to her new role. She has served in numerous leadership roles within the DePaul University admissions office, and most recently, as Alma University’s Regional Assistant Director of Admissions. Her addition to the team marks a rejoining of PCC, having previously served as the organization’s program manager from 2018-19.
With specializations in transfer admission and recruitment for college students, Rebecca will lead the design and implementation of programs that further research-based strategies. Her plans aim to improve college completion rates and reduce accessibility gaps for students across Illinois that are currently underrepresented and marginalized by educational institutions and economic systems.
Inspired by her own experiences as a first-generation college student and a college orientation leader, Rebecca sees the value in fostering strong relationships between institutions and their students. Rebecca has a master’s of education in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia in addition to a bachelor’s degree in sociology from DePaul University.
Michael Nearpass – Development Manager
Michael Nearpass joined PCC in January 2026 as the Development Manager. In his new role, Michael has combined several years of experience in both teaching and program development. Prior to his role with PCC, he spent eight years as a teaching artist for a number of music-based after school and community programs throughout Chicago before moving into development and administration-oriented roles. Most recently, Michael served for four years as the Development Manager for the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic.
In his new position for PCC, Michael will work closely with the Director of Development to support the expansion and enhancement of our fundraising efforts and donor relations. He will be responsible for researching and qualifying new donor prospects, along with supporting the grant writing and reporting process. Michael will also assist in coordinating both events and outreach to our Investors Council, Board, and other partners and supporters.
Michael’s decision to work in higher education stems from his own experiences as a teacher and his familial background of fellow educators, and he hopes that his work will help close existing gaps in higher education accessibility for students of all backgrounds. Michael holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from UIUC and Indiana University, respectively.
Paola Salgado – Policy and Advocacy Analyst
We also congratulate Paola Salgado on her promotion to Policy and Advocacy Analyst. Since her time as an intern, Paola has been instrumental in leading our community engagement efforts. In her new role, Paola is responsible for coordinating and developing the curriculum for PCC’s Student Advisory Council (SAC), and acting as PCC’s main representative for the Coalition for Transforming Higher Education Funding (CTHEF). She also continues to support our research and data team, contributing to policy and advocacy initiatives that promote educational equity.
As a first-generation college student from Chicago, Salgado is passionate about ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality education. As a first-generation Latinx individual, she was determined to pursue higher education and create opportunities for herself and others. Salgado earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and education from Wheaton College (Mass.) While serving as a sixth grade ELA teacher in Nashville, she earned her master’s degree in education from Lipscomb University. She later pursued her master’s degree in public policy at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.