Pre-Collegiate Programs – TRIO

Pre-Collegiate Programs – TRIO is part of the Pre-Collegiate Programs at Sonoma State and is home to ten TRIO programs, including eight Upward Bound programs and two Talent Search programs. TRIO includes eight programs that are targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.

• Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

The Pre-Collegiate Programs team is made up of a network of educational equity professionals whose stated aim is to provide information and services to families in Sonoma State University’s local communities to prepare K-12 students for college success. Pre-Collegiate Programs serve over 2,000 students who attend partner schools in Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, and Napa counties, and the team provides information and services to families in these local communities. TRIO programs are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, and Pre-Collegiate Programs also hosts a National TRIO Priority 5 Training program.

Since 1964, TRIO programs have been helping first-generation, low-income students prepare for and successfully graduate from college. TRIO programs began as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty, with the Educational Opportunity Act of 1964 establishing an experimental program known as Upward Bound. In 1965, the Higher Education Act created Talent Search, and Special Services for Disadvantaged Students (later known as Student Support Services) was launched in 1968. By 1998, the TRIO programs had grown to eight, adding Educational Opportunity Centers in 1972, the Training Program for Federal TRIO programs in 1976, the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program in 1986, Upward Bound Math/Science in 1990, and the TRIO Dissemination Partnership in 1998. TRIO programs were the first national college access and retention programs to address serious social and cultural barriers to education in America.

The leadership team for Pre-Collegiate Programs includes Carlos Gonzales, Executive Director of Pre-Collegiate Programs; Emily Cripe, Recruitment, Alumni, and Community Specialist; Seth Nuzum, Data Coordinator; and Eshawn Zuniga, Associate Director of Business Operations.

Last updated June 26, 2026.