Our Mission
Boosting Hope is committed to expanding pathways to prosperity for underserved students by increasing access to and success in higher education. For many first-generation students, the barriers are not only financial but also informational and social—limited guidance, lack of role models, family responsibilities, and unfamiliarity with college systems.
The economic impact of higher education is significant. Research from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce shows that individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn, on average, $1.2 million more over their lifetime than those with only a high school diploma. Despite the accessibility of community colleges, completion rates for students from underserved backgrounds remain low—approximately 20%.
Evidence-based solutions highlight the importance of structured pathways and strong mentorship. The “guided pathways” model, outlined in Redesigning America’s Community Colleges (Bailey, Jaggars, and Jenkins; Harvard University Press), demonstrates that clear academic direction combined with sustained advising can dramatically improve student success and completion rates.
Navigating Pathways to Success
The program empowers high-potential students from underserved and first-generation backgrounds to access higher education and succeed. Many of these students lack family guidance, financial resources, and exposure to college pathways, often resulting in struggles navigating admissions, financial aid, and academic planning. We provide targeted mentoring, guidance, and modest financial support to help them overcome these barriers and realize their full potential. Building on 5 years of proven success, the program complements existing state Promise Scholarships by offering “Promise Plus” support bridging the gap between access and completion. Students receive one-on-one mentorship, college navigation assistance, and stipends for essential expenses.
By combining early outreach, personalized mentoring, financial support, and a strong community network, the Program transforms access into achievement—helping students not only reach college, but graduate and build meaningful careers and connections.
Network of Hope
Each scholar becomes a member of our Network of Hope, a supportive community of peers, mentors, alumni, and industry partners. This network offers ongoing encouragement, professional exposure, and career guidance, ensuring students are supported not only through college but also as they transition into the workforce. A defining feature of the program is continuous access to a dedicated mentor who provides consistent, personalized support.
Meet Our Team
Naseer Rana,
President Boosting Hope Inc.
Naseer’s experience in the development sector spans more than three decades in over 30 countries with long-term postings in Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Kenya, and the US while working with the US Agency for International Development and The World Bank as Governance Advisor. He has a master’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from USC, California, and has worked in Fortune five hundred companies for ten years, including as Industrial Engineering Manager at Gillette International.
Huma Rana
Vice President Boosting Hope Inc.
Huma has a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics and has a passion for helping people overcome hurdles on their path to prosperity. She has been helping people through funding and mentoring to overcome their difficulties in education, health, livelihood, and housing. She has lived in several countries besides the US in the Far East, South Asia, and Africa. She has helped local artisans like handcrafted leather shoemakers in Pakistan, silver jewelry makers in Ubud Indonesia, and Masai handicrafts in Kenya.
Denise Menzies,
Greater Lake Tahoe Basin Programs and Mentorship
Denise Menzies is a Commercial Film Producer, Business Manager, Corporate Consultant and a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Denise and her husband, Australian Cinematographer Peter Menzies, Jr., own The Burradoo Film Company in Sydney, Australia and Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Denise Is a graduate of the University of Kansas with a BS In Journalism: Radio/Television & Film and a BA in Classical Antiquities.
Denise is an educational advocate and a trained Ethics Instructor. Denise volunteers as a mentor and college admissions advisor for first generation Latino high school students. She is Vice Chair of the Pet Network Humane Society Board in Incline Village, and is also on the Board of The Cymbal Foundation: Supporting Music in Public Schools. Denise also serves on the Board of the Rotary Club of Tahoe-Incline as Fundraising Chair.
Silvia Ahmed,
Board Member
Fremont Programs and Mentorship
Silvia Ahmed is a seasoned high-tech leader with decades of experience working in industry leading organizations and developing talent. She is Vice President of Engineering at Veritas and has held senior roles at companies such as VMWare, EMC, NetApp, and Veritas. She is known for her work developing engineering talent, team building and scaling, employee productivity, quality assurance, and innovation. She actively supports and advocates for women in tech. She believes supporting women and minorities through education and leadership opportunities will not only impact the quality of life of those individuals but result in a healthier community. A healthier community where diversity and equality prevail supports our democratic values as a country.
Brett Maroni-Rana,
Manager, Web Support
Brett holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Science degree in Bioinformatics from Northeaster University. As a scientist working in laboratories, his career has primarily revolved around product development within the biotech industry.
Following a successful career, he found that his experience in building biotech products, could be leveraged to build web apps and websites. He continues his education in Computer Science and Front-End Web Development with a keen interest in React Web Applications.
Chloe Menzies,
Greater Lake Tahoe Basin
Manager and Grants Writer,
Website Design
Chloe holds a BA from Wake Forest University in Political Science and International Affairs with minors in Sociology and American Ethnic Studies. She has experience as an Environmental Specialist for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California's Environmental Protection Department. Additionally, Chloe has worked as a Legislative Intern for Senator Cortez Masto on Banking & housing and Transportation & Tech portfolios. She had also interned with the Tahoe Fund, in Lake Tahoe.