Interim Chief Executive Officer

Angela Bugayong is a dedicated leader with extensive experience in college advising, student success, and nonprofit management. As Chief Operating Officer of Students Rising Above (SRA), she drives the organization’s mission to support first-generation students in achieving their college and career goals. Previously, Angela served as SRA’s Interim CEO, Chief Program Officer and Senior Director of Program Strategy, where she led the development of student programs, data-driven strategies, and organizational infrastructure to enhance impact.

Before joining SRA, Angela was Associate Director of the Access Learning Lab at the College Board, where she led the development of a data-enhanced advising tool supporting 1,600 high school students. Prior to that, she managed complex programs and partnerships at a nonprofit focused on college access and success for students in Washington, DC’s Wards 7 & 8, driving significant outcomes.

Angela’s passion for education is deeply personal. Her mother immigrated from the Philippines to Los Angeles and joined the U.S. Air Force a year after her birth. Raised by her grandparents alongside her younger sister, she learned the values of hard work and education. She holds a Master’s in Education from the University of Phoenix, a Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, and a B.A. in Political Science with a focus in Public Administration from California State University, Los Angeles.