Nick Booza’s path to college access work began the way many meaningful journeys do, with a moment of clarity, realizing he wanted to make a difference in the world. While finishing his final semester at Wayne State University, Nick was searching for work that would allow him to give back to his community. After a frustrating day of searching for opportunities to no avail, he came across a Facebook post that changed everything. A former teacher had shared an opportunity to become a college adviser through MCAN’s AdviseMI program. Nick read the description and immediately felt it was perfect.
“I had always been drawn to education,” he said, “but I wasn’t sure the classroom was the best place for me.”
What was clear was his passion for helping others navigate systems that often feel overwhelming. From working with elementary students as a ninth grader to launching a tutoring program as a high school senior, Nick had long believed in the power of sharing lived experiences — both the successes and the struggles.
AdviseMI gave him the chance to do exactly that.
Support That Makes Impact Possible
Early on, what stood out to Nick wasn’t just the structure of AdviseMI, it was MCAN’s approach to supporting the advisers themselves.
“MCAN was very direct about supporting us,” he said. “That support allowed us to show up for students in meaningful ways.”
From hands-on guidance by program staff and leadership, to professional development tailored to student needs, to a culture that encouraged advisers to lean on one another, Nick described MCAN’s presence as “pivotal” to his success. That network mattered, especially when the work can often feel isolating.
“When you’re the one person in a school dedicated to college access, it can feel lonely,” Nick said. “MCAN’s legacy to me will always be the ‘N,’ the network. Being connected to others doing this work kept a fire inside me.”
No Two Days, or Students, Are the Same
Ask Nick what a typical day as an AdviseMI adviser looks like, and he’ll tell you there isn’t one. The work shifts with the seasons, the community, and most importantly, the students themselves.
In Nick’s school, many students already believed in college, and they just needed individualized guidance to get there. His days included classroom presentations on college application fundamentals, one-on-one meetings to answer questions and explain opportunities, and consistent follow-up to help students balance college planning with everything else in their lives.
But Nick is quick to acknowledge that every community is different and other advisers face different challenges. He points to Justin Weller, a fellow adviser who had to build a college-going culture from the ground up through creative programming, relationship-building, and consistent encouragement.
“He has a real strength for program planning and was always working on something where he could interact with his students and establish the benefits of the college pathway,” Nick said. “That’s what makes AdviseMI so powerful. It meets communities where they are.”
The Stories That Stay With You
One student from Nick’s second year of service still stands out.
“He was clearly capable of incredible things,” he recalled, “but he didn’t know how to navigate the process.”
Together, they worked through applications, financial aid, and conversations about what postsecondary life could look like. Recently, that student reached out to share some good news. He was thriving in college, had completed an internship with a major company, and even traveled to New York City and Plano, Texas, as part of the experience.
“He told me he didn’t think he could have done it without my help,” Nick said.
It’s one story among hundreds, but it captures the essence of why the work matters. Sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in a student’s potential and helps them see the path forward.
Carrying the Mission Forward
Perhaps the most powerful testament to MCAN’s work is what happens after an adviser moves on. The school where Nick served no longer has a dedicated college adviser, not because they don’t value the work, but because they haven’t been able to fill the position. Yet the impact continues.
“My time and the time of the adviser after me showed everyone the significance of the work,” Nick said.
When he returns to visit as part of his current job, he sees counselors taking extra time to meet with students about their postsecondary plans and teachers incorporating college application support into their lessons, all without any obligation to do so.
Today, Nick serves as assistant director for freshman recruitment at the University of Detroit Mercy, and while his role has changed, his mindset hasn’t.
“I always have my college adviser hat on,” he said.
His experience working directly with high school students reshaped how he approaches recruitment and student success. For Nick, the most important metric isn’t enrollment, it’s long-term happiness and fulfillment.
“When students realize I’m not an obstacle, but someone here to help remove barriers, that’s when the best outcomes happen,” he said.
That philosophy guides his work today. By focusing on authenticity, fit, and honest conversations about options, Nick sees himself continuing MCAN’s mission from inside higher education, helping students make choices that align with who they are and where they want to go.
Looking Forward
As MCAN looks to the future, Nick is hopeful because of the people doing the work and the students they continue to serve.
“Education will always be the best tool we have to improve lives,” he said. “Knowing there are so many dedicated people doing this work makes me optimistic.”
Nick has one key piece of advice he shares with students who are unsure about postsecondary education, especially those who would be first-generation college-going students: ask for help, and ask early. One conversation can spark a better future, and no one figures it out alone.
Fifteen years forward, that belief — rooted in connection, equity, and possibility — continues to define MCAN’s impact. College still matters, not as a one-size-fits-all solution, but as a pathway to opportunity that should be accessible to every Michigan student. Through programs like AdviseMI and the network of dedicated professionals, such as Nick Booza, who carry this mission forward, MCAN is ensuring that the next 15 years will bring even more students closer to their dreams.
As MCAN celebrates 15 years of transforming college access in Michigan, we’re sharing stories from the front lines — the advisers, partners, and champions who’ve helped thousands of students navigate their path to higher education. Nick Booza, now assistant director for freshman recruitment at the University of Detroit Mercy, got his start as an AdviseMI college adviser. His story reminds us why this work matters and how its impact ripples far beyond individual students.