OneGoal Names Eric Lugo Executive Director for Midwest Region
CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 2026—OneGoal, a leading national nonprofit working to transform postsecondary advising and support, today announced the appointment of Eric Lugo as Executive Director for its Midwest region. In this role, Lugo will lead OneGoal’s work across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, overseeing partnerships with schools and districts to ensure students in those states have the support they need to define their own futures.
“Eric brings exactly the combination of expertise, relationships, and deep commitment to young people that this work demands,” said Melissa Connelly, CEO of OneGoal. “He understands the complexity of building systems that serve all students, and he knows how to bring communities, educators, and partners together around a shared goal. I have tremendous confidence in his leadership, and I know he will strengthen our impact across the Midwest at a moment when this work has never been more important.”
Lugo is an accomplished organizational leader with executive and senior experience across the nonprofit, higher education, and philanthropic sectors. His career spans scaling career pathway and workforce development models, expanding work-based learning opportunities through apprenticeship and internship programs, aligning national service and volunteer experiences to industry training and recruitment, and developing institutional partnerships that accelerate pathways to post-secondary degrees and credentials. He is also a seasoned fundraiser with a track record of building sustainable development strategies that drive program growth and innovation.
“Young people today are being asked to make long-term education and financial decisions in a world changing at a lightning pace,” Lugo said. “I’m excited to be part of a movement that lines up next to students, empowers them to pursue their passions, and helps them make informed and strategic postsecondary choices that align to their aspirations. The work OneGoal does in the Midwest is vital, and I look forward to deepening our partnerships to reach even more students.”
Lugo will take the helm of the Midwest region at a time when the organization is expanding the way it supports partners from a classroom-based model to a more flexible school-wide model. OneGoal’s unique approach, honed for nearly 20 years, equips everyday educators to provide career-connected advising, tailored to each student’s aspirations and circumstances. Students receive continued support through the transition after high school to ensure they are set up to succeed on their postsecondary path.
Since its founding as a small after-school program in Chicago in 2007, the organization has served 13,000 students in the Midwest and impacted another 80,000 students indirectly through its support of school leaders in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Lugo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and an interdisciplinary minor in Latina/o Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as an MBA and MSIMC from Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business. In 2018, Loyola presented him with the Damen Award, which recognizes alumni who demonstrate exemplary community leadership, professional accomplishment, and service to others. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Latino Policy Forum and is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago.
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About OneGoal
OneGoal transforms postsecondary advising and support so that every student can define their own future. We work with partner schools and districts across 10 states to build their knowledge and capacity, prioritizing strong human relationships to deliver real student impact. Nationally, 80% of OneGoal high school graduates enroll in a postsecondary institution, and OneGoal students are up to 40% more likely to earn their degrees than students from similar backgrounds. Learn more at onegoal.org.
For more information on OneGoal, contact Monique Jaramillo, Vice President of Marketing + Communications, at monique.jaramillo@onegoalgraduation.org or 347-759-8419.