This article spotlights Hugo Que, a 34-year-old leader shaking up Marin County’s education scene. He serves as the senior college access program director at 10,000 Degrees.
A DACA recipient who came to the United States at age five, Que’s built a career on turning barriers into pathways for low-income, first-generation students. His work stretches across eight Bay Area counties, with deep roots in Marin’s cities and towns.
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Meet Hugo Que: A Marin Advocate for Accessible Higher Education
In Marin County, Que weaves together school districts, nonprofits, and community groups. The goal? Expand college access for underrepresented families.
His time at 10,000 Degrees merges lived experience with sharp leadership. He anchors programs that reach San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, and plenty of places in between.
Las ganas—his phrase for that inner drive to succeed—fuels his daily push to connect students with real opportunities in higher education.
Early life and professional ascent
Que’s story begins with the immigrant experience. He’s a DACA recipient who moved to the U.S. at age five.
He’s also an alumnus of 10,000 Degrees and has spent nearly twelve years working to open doors for students who might not see a path to college. As a financial aid regional coordinator for the California Student Aid Commission, he organizes Cash for College workshops—events that help Marin families figure out financial aid and how to pay for college.
During college, Que founded the Stan State Undocumented Student Task Force at California State University, Stanislaus. That work still echoes in Bay Area education circles.
He joined Marin’s LEO Leadership for Equity and Opportunity cohort in 2017. Since then, he’s served on advisory boards like Marin Latino Leaders and the West Marin Collaborative Impact Grant Committee, building stronger pipelines for students from Corte Madera to Fairfax.
Colleagues often mention his mentoring and coaching. They say he learns from others and lights up when former students become leaders.
Que points out that his own youth helps him connect with students and community members in places like Sausalito, San Rafael, and Point Richmond. He keeps an eye on cultural trends that shape youth education.
- Nearly 12 years leading initiatives at 10,000 Degrees
- Financial aid coordination for Cash for College across the Bay Area
- Founding a statewide undocumented student task force in college
- Active leadership roles in Marin’s community organizations
- Strong ties to San Rafael schools, Novato high schools, and Tamalpais-area districts
Impact in Marin County: Town by Town
Que’s work sits right at the crossroads of Marin’s schools, neighborhoods, and families. From the shorelines of Sausalito to the hills of Mill Valley, and inland to Novato and San Anselmo, he’s there.
He partners closely with Marin school districts to tailor outreach, counseling, and financial guidance to each community. Maybe it’s a family in San Rafael filling out their first college aid form, or someone in West Marin planning a transfer.
He teams up with county and city agencies, plus local nonprofits, to build sustainable routes to higher education. In spots like Ross and Marinwood, his teams hold workshops and sit down with families where they’re comfortable.
They break down the FAFSA, Cal Grant eligibility, and the nuts and bolts of enrolling in community college, state universities, or online programs. The point in every Marin town? Raise awareness, cut through barriers, and show real pathways to four-year degrees and certificates.
Key collaborations include Cash for College events in Marin City and Corte Madera. He also advises the West Marin Collaborative so rural and coastal students stay in the higher-ed conversation.
In San Rafael and Novato, 10,000 Degrees works with local high schools to spot first-generation and immigrant students early. They match them with mentors, tutors, and financial aid guidance that fits college readiness timelines.
Looking Ahead: Navigating a Shifting Higher-Ed Landscape
Que says the main challenge is pretty clear: navigating changing higher-education accessibility while policies, funding, and demographics keep shifting. He really leans into leadership with empathy, hoping to bring some stability and hope to students and families juggling jobs, family, and language barriers in places from San Anselmo to Novato.
For Marin families, he boils it down: your local schools and nonprofits—alongside state efforts like the California Student Aid Commission and 10,000 Degrees—are working to build a sturdy bridge to college, one that actually stays rooted in the community. As Marin grows and changes, Que’s work stands out as a real touchstone for equity and opportunity across the North Bay.
Here is the source article for this story: Program director for nonprofit 10,000 Degrees, Hugo Que, named to North Bay Business Journal’s Forty Under 40
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