Board of Directors: Executive Team
Board of Directors
Joe Andreis
Executive Director
Joe Andreis is a passionate, results-oriented educational leader with over 25 years of experience dedicated to helping students reach their full potential. As co-founder and Executive Director of the Sidney Gutierrez School, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 public middle school in New Mexico, Joe has built his career by creating pathways to student success through high standards, innovation, and community collaboration.
At College Bound AZ, Joe applies the same dedication to ensure every student, regardless of background, has the resources and support needed to pursue higher education or the workforce. With a solid foundation in strategic planning, fiscal management, and program development, he works to improve organizational systems that increase access and opportunities for first generation and underrepresented students.
Known for his collaborative leadership style, Joe believes that lasting impact begins with building relationships and trust among families, educators, and community partners to foster a culture of possibility.
In all aspects of his work, Joe embodies the mission of College Bound AZ, empowering students to access, navigate, and succeed in higher education, transforming their potential into lifelong achievement.
Lisa Rivera
Director of Development
Lisa Rivera is a seasoned community builder and passionate advocate for outreach and equity initiatives. With a diverse background in business administration, Lisa brings extensive experience in strategic planning, program implementation, operations, grant writing, and organizational development.
Throughout her career, Lisa has built a strong reputation as a trustworthy and dedicated leader, fostering meaningful relationships, securing vital funding, and driving sustainable growth in the nonprofit sector. Her work is guided by a deep commitment to serving others and strengthening her community.
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Lisa enjoys life with her husband of over 20 years. She is the proud mother of three wonderful children, a loving grandmother, and a devoted pet parent to three cherished fur babies. She also enjoys the K-Pop group, Stray Kids.
Elizabeth Paulus
Founder & Transition Advisor
Elizabeth co-founded College Bound with her husband, Gerald Paulus, and serves as the Executive Director.
She is a 31-year US Army veteran, a retired Lieutenant Colonel who started in the Women’s Army Corps, and airborne qualified.
She left active duty to move to Phoenix, where she has lived for 40 years. She graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and went on to become an environmental specialist at the City of Phoenix. She returned to college at Upper Iowa University for her master’s degree in Education in 2017.
She designed and trademarked RISE Scholars, a college access program being implemented at the East Valley Institute of Technology since 2018.
Liz has documented and submitted multiple veterans’ stories to the Library of Congress, is on the EVIT Foundation Board, in the Mesa Sister Cities, Mesa Rotary, and is part of the Mesa West Rotary McKinney-Vento Project.
For her volunteer work through College Bound AZ that has resulted in lifting families out of poverty, in 2023 Liz was awarded the Calvin C. Goode – MLK Lifetime Achievement Award at the AZ MLK Awards Celebration.