Arizona GEAR UP Assistant Director Andrea González Sotelo was recognized as one of two recipients of the 2026 NCCEP/GEAR UP Professional Leader of the Year Award during the NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C.
The Professional Leader of the Year Award recognizes GEAR UP professionals who go above and beyond to make an extraordinary impact on students, communities, and the mission of GEAR UP. Andrea was nominated by Arizona GEAR UP Director Robert Neese.
Andrea has dedicated more than 17 years to helping students and families access higher education. She has served as Assistant Director of Arizona GEAR UP since 2019 after previously serving as a Program Manager and GEAR UP Site Coordinator. As a bilingual, first-generation college graduate, she brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work, helping ensure students across Arizona have the support and opportunities they need to pursue education beyond high school.
She oversees Arizona GEAR UP’s evaluation and reporting efforts, ensuring accurate data collection, timely federal reporting, and continuous program improvement. Her work has helped the program meet and exceed grant goals, strengthen partnerships with schools across the state, and use data to improve college access and student success.
Over the past year, Andrea also guided the program through staffing transitions, stepping into key leadership and management roles to ensure students, schools, and partners continued receiving uninterrupted support.
This national recognition reflects Andrea’s dedication to expanding educational opportunities for Arizona students and highlights the impact of Arizona GEAR UP’s work to prepare students for success beyond high school.