The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) is pleased to welcome Janice Hicks to our Board of Directors. Hicks brings both deep professional expertise and a powerful personal connection to NCAN’s mission. Originally from rural Mississippi, her journey into higher education was shaped by both perseverance and the critical support of public programs like Head Start, Medicaid, and SNAP.
“I graduated high school with straight As,” Hicks shared, “but I still struggled with college entrance exams.” After taking those exams five times, she ultimately qualified for admission but not for scholarships, an experience that left a lasting impression. “It made me question whether I truly belonged in postsecondary education,” she reflected.
That sense of doubt is one many students experience. Today, more than 70% of college students are considered “non-traditional,” including working adults, parenting students, those returning after incarceration, and learners from rural or low-income backgrounds. Janice knows firsthand how these realities can shape a student’s path.
“What I know now is that I did belong. And I wasn’t alone,” she said.
Today, Hicks serves as a Deputy Director at Ascendium Education Group, where she oversees strategic grantmaking pipelines and supports grantmaking efforts within Ascendium’s Support Learner Success strategy. This work focuses on helping institutions and training providers redesign their systems to better reflect the needs of today’s learners through embedded academic and non-academic supports, career-connected experiences, and student-centered structures that recognize the many responsibilities students carry.
Hicks' career reflects a deep commitment to student success and institutional transformation. Prior to joining Ascendium, she served as Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness at Odessa College, where she led strategic planning, accreditation, and data-informed initiatives to advance student outcomes. She has also held leadership roles across multiple public universities, a university medical center, and community colleges.
She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of North Texas, as well as degrees from the University of Central Arkansas and Mississippi State University.
Her work and her story underscore the urgency of NCAN’s mission. By 2031, 72% of jobs in the United States will require education or training beyond high school. Ensuring that all learners, regardless of background, can access and complete postsecondary education is more critical than ever.
For Hicks, this work is both professional and deeply personal.
“We’re helping to build systems that reflect the reality of today’s learners,” she said. “I’m proud to be part of efforts that help every learner reach their goals.”
We are honored to have Hicks join NCAN’s Board of Directors and look forward to the insight, leadership, and lived experience she brings to our work.