Nick Mathern

Nick Mathern is Associate Vice President of Policy & Partnership Development for Gateway to College National Network.  Since 2005 he has brokered agreements between colleges, school districts, and state education agencies in order to connect communities with training, professional development, and evaluation services, as well as replication and implementation of the Gateway to College program model.

Nick is also responsible for developing and executing the National Network’s policy agenda, which aims to provide pathways, resources, and support services for opportunity youth to reengage with education and achieve success in post-secondary programs.

Before coming to Gateway, Nick taught in a small alternative high school. Nick’s previous career was in social services; providing child abuse intervention services, serving children and families who were survivors of domestic violence, and working with adjudicated youth and adults. 

Nick enjoys traveling and has studied, volunteered, and taught English in Central America and Asia. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Public Administration with focus on education policy. 

Nick will present “How Community College Partnerships and Dual Enrollment Make a Real Difference for Opportunity Youth.”

AAPF19 Session

Creating Policy to Reach All Students: The Path to a Statewide Reengagement System in Oregon
​When accountability systems and funding formulas don’t incentivize reengaging out-of-school youth, communities suffer. In 2015, a small group of Oregon educators set out to change that. This session will chronicle the lessons learned about coalition-building, legislation, and the power of youth voices that led to the creation of Oregon’s Statewide Reengagement System in 2019. Nick Mathern, co-convener of the Oregon Youth Reengagement Coalition (OYRC) will lead a discussion with coalition members and/or policy makers.