CollegeSpring’s New COO!

CollegeSpring kicks off 2024 with the exciting news that Arely Benavides has joined the team as Chief Operating Officer. Arely’s depth of leadership experience in education and operations will accelerate and sharpen CollegeSpring’s expansion strategy, bolstering our ability to become more innovative and sustainable as an organization and empowering more students with college and career readiness.

Arely began her professional journey as a management consultant for strategy, process improvement, and technology initiatives, and she later assumed pivotal leadership roles in operations and supply chain for brands like Oakley and Vans. For the past decade, she has dedicated herself to leading operations work in education. Arely worked at IDEA Public Schools, wearing different hats from Child Nutrition Director to Senior Vice President of Operations. She later became the Assistant Superintendent of Operations at McAllen ISD in Texas. Most recently, she was the Chief Operating Officer at Phalen Leadership Academies. Currently based in the Rio Grande Valley, Arely earned her BS and MBA from MIT and a M.Ed. from Harvard.

Arely shares, “By contributing to the CollegeSpring mission, I aim to be a part of positive change, helping students overcome obstacles and achieve social and financial mobility. I believe in the ripple effect of education, where empowering one individual can lead to broader community impact. This commitment is not just a professional endeavor for me; it’s a personal connection to the mission and a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of students and their communities.”

We are thrilled to welcome Arely to CollegeSpring; her values, commitment to our mission, and insight are assets to our team and impact!

Very best,
Yoon