Building the capacity of professionals and organizations that build the capacity of others.
Meredith “Mer” Curry Nuñez is a long-time social justice advocate working at the intersection of operations, college access, and workforce development.
Photo credit by Serei Tun, graphics by Kyra Young
Whether it's implementing operations, activating authentic leaders, cultivating dynamic teams, institutionalizing flexible processes and procedures, or even reconnecting the body and mind through healing dance sessions and grounding meditations, Mer's personal and professional mission is to bring out the leader in all of us, and to redefine leadership to incorporate the critical element of HEALING.
She has worked for local and state nonprofits since 2000, is a product of all three CA public higher education institutions, and is passionate about advancing systems change, education equity, and economic mobility.
Mer joined the Northern California College Promise Coalition (NCCPC) in 2020. As the Executive Director, she works in partnership with organizations and leaders that are members of NCCPC, and those around the state, for collective impact to increase outcomes for multiply-marginalized underserved (MMU) students in college access, success, and career launch.
Mer is the inaugural Board Chair of LEAD Filipino based in San Jose, a Bay Area K16 Collaborative Steering Committee member, an appointed CA Cradle to Career (C2C) Data System Community Engagement Advisory Board Member, and a 2023 National College Attainment Network (NCAN) Policy Council member.
Mer is an elected California Delegate representing Congressional District 18 who will represent her community at the Democratic National Convention in August 2024.
Mer is also the Owner & Principal Consultant of AdvancED Consulting, LLC, a small consultancy firm with a California-focus serving BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and WOC (Womxn of Color) leaders and communities in reaching their highest potential. Past clients include the UC Office of the President, De Anza College, The Association of Catholic Student Councils, and the National Civic Leadership Forum.
Before her work at NCCPC, Mer was the Director of Education Partnerships for Moneythink which manages DecidED, a free tool for students and advisors to compare college costs, financial aid benefits, and other fit factors. Mer was the founding Director of Operations of the California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI) which manages CaliforniaColleges.edu, the State’s official college and career planning platform and an integral part of the C2C. As the Executive Director of the South Central Scholars Foundation in Los Angeles which is now Thrive Scholars, she ran a scholarship program that provided high-achieving students of color from low-income communities the scholarships, advising, social-emotional support, and career development needed to thrive.
Mer was inducted into the East Side Hall of Fame in 2023 for her accomplishments since she graduated from Piedmont Hills High School in the East Side Union High School District. Mer received Global Tassel's 2023 Global Community Innovator Award for leading creative, meaningful, and innovative programs that serve and engage our global community to do good work contributing to the betterment of humanity. In addition, Mer was a 2021 Silicon Valley Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree and was recognized by the UCLA Healthy Campus Initiative Eudaimonia Society as a 2020 honoree.
A first-generation college graduate, Mer earned a B.A. from UC Los Angeles, and an M.B.A. from Cal State Long Beach. She was a Commissioner on the Santa Clara County Commission on the Status of Women from 2019-2022, and served as Chair from September 2020-December 2021.
She has worked for local and state nonprofits since 2000, is a product of all three CA public higher education institutions, and is passionate about advancing systems change, education equity, and economic mobility.
Mer joined the Northern California College Promise Coalition (NCCPC) in 2020. As the Executive Director, she works in partnership with organizations and leaders that are members of NCCPC, and those around the state, for collective impact to increase outcomes for multiply-marginalized underserved (MMU) students in college access, success, and career launch.
Mer is the inaugural Board Chair of LEAD Filipino based in San Jose, a Bay Area K16 Collaborative Steering Committee member, an appointed CA Cradle to Career (C2C) Data System Community Engagement Advisory Board Member, and a 2023 National College Attainment Network (NCAN) Policy Council member.
Mer is an elected California Delegate representing Congressional District 18 who will represent her community at the Democratic National Convention in August 2024.
Mer is also the Owner & Principal Consultant of AdvancED Consulting, LLC, a small consultancy firm with a California-focus serving BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and WOC (Womxn of Color) leaders and communities in reaching their highest potential. Past clients include the UC Office of the President, De Anza College, The Association of Catholic Student Councils, and the National Civic Leadership Forum.
Before her work at NCCPC, Mer was the Director of Education Partnerships for Moneythink which manages DecidED, a free tool for students and advisors to compare college costs, financial aid benefits, and other fit factors. Mer was the founding Director of Operations of the California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI) which manages CaliforniaColleges.edu, the State’s official college and career planning platform and an integral part of the C2C. As the Executive Director of the South Central Scholars Foundation in Los Angeles which is now Thrive Scholars, she ran a scholarship program that provided high-achieving students of color from low-income communities the scholarships, advising, social-emotional support, and career development needed to thrive.
Mer was inducted into the East Side Hall of Fame in 2023 for her accomplishments since she graduated from Piedmont Hills High School in the East Side Union High School District. Mer received Global Tassel's 2023 Global Community Innovator Award for leading creative, meaningful, and innovative programs that serve and engage our global community to do good work contributing to the betterment of humanity. In addition, Mer was a 2021 Silicon Valley Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree and was recognized by the UCLA Healthy Campus Initiative Eudaimonia Society as a 2020 honoree.
A first-generation college graduate, Mer earned a B.A. from UC Los Angeles, and an M.B.A. from Cal State Long Beach. She was a Commissioner on the Santa Clara County Commission on the Status of Women from 2019-2022, and served as Chair from September 2020-December 2021.
Book Mer to present at your next event!Mer is a renowned public speaker across Santa Clara County and the state of California. Book Mer as a presenter, facilitator, or panelist!
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Check out Mer's Past Speaking Engagements
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