Leadership Team
Carole J. Trone, PhD
Executive Director
Carole Trone has served as Executive Director of the Coalition since August 2023. Carole also serves as Executive Director of Fair Opportunity Project, a nationally focused and student-led nonprofit organization with a mission to empower students to access and afford college. Carole also serves as President of College Goal Wisconsin. Prior to these roles, she served as Senior Vice President for Educational Services at the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. She earned a Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has taught and served in various roles there. Carole earned her undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University and is originally from Washington, D.C.
Benjamin Lee is Vice President at Ascendium Education Group, a nonprofit organization making education and training beyond high school a reality for more people. Benjamin’s focus includes compliance, bankruptcy, incident response, and risk management, and he is a frequent trainer and presenter on student loans. Benjamin received his law degree from the University of Minnesota, where he studied nonprofit, corporate, and consumer law, and took on student loans of his own.
Cheryl Rapp
Board Treasurer
Cheryl Rapp is a College Investment Program Finance Officer at the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. She has over 20 years of experience working for the State as the College Affordability Specialist prior to joining the College Savings Program. Cheryl is also Past President of College Goal Wisconsin. Her experience includes educating students, parents, teachers, and school counselors on the value of and how to complete the Free Application for Financial Student Aid.
Benjamin Lee, JD
Board President
Michelle Reinen
Board Vice President & Secretary
Renola Swoboda
Board Member
Renola Swoboda is the Digital Marketing Manager at Ascendium Education Group, where she leverages her expertise in digital communications, social media, and data analysis to support higher education initiatives. With extensive experience in the student loan industry, including work with Federal Student Aid (FSA) and student loan servicers, she is recognized as a leading voice in digital communications for the sector. Renola holds a communications degree from Westwood College and also studied at DePaul University.
Michelle Reinen is the Administrator of the Division of Trade and Consumer Protection at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, bringing over 28 years of experience in consumer protection. She has led initiatives, built strong stakeholder relationships, and overseen the enforcement of state laws that safeguard consumers and businesses from unfair and deceptive practices. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a degree in Consumer Science, she also holds a Business Analysis Certificate from the Wisconsin School of Business.
Hallie Lienhardt
Board Member
Hallie Lienhardt is the Assistant Director of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Retirement and Disability Research Center, where she has spent over a decade managing research and outreach projects to advance financial capability, equity, and access. Previously, she worked as a foreclosure prevention housing counselor in Hawaii and Minneapolis-St. Paul. She holds an M.A. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a bachelor’s degree in African and African American Studies from the University of Kansas.
Jennifer Andreas
Board Member
For over 25 years, Jennifer Andreas has been a leader in the nonprofit sector, driving mission-driven initiatives that create lasting impact across Wisconsin. As Money Path Partnership Manager at SecureFutures, she builds partnerships with schools and educators to equip thousands of students each year with essential financial decision-making skills. Dedicated to financial literacy and educational equity, Jennifer brings her expertise to the board to strengthen support for students before college.
Advisory Board
Lara A. Sutherlin, JD
Advisory Board Member and Coalition Co-Founder, Outgoing Board President
Lara Sutherlin is the Administrator of the Division of Legal Services at the Wisconsin Department of Justice, appointed in 2023 by Attorney General Josh Kaul. An attorney with 24 years of experience, she previously led the Division of Trade and Consumer Protection, and earlier worked as an Assistant Attorney General, a wage and hour attorney in Boston, and a law clerk for U.S. Judge Michael Melloy.
John Wedge is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, Region 6, where he has spent the past 13 years advocating for public education and supporting teachers, school employees, administrators, and board members across the state. Originally from London, England, he earned his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and previously served on the faculty at Eastern Illinois University.
John Wedge, PhD
Advisory Board Member and Coalition Co-Founder, Outgoing Board Vice President
Staff
Shan Parcon
Digital Marketing and Outreach Coordinator
Shan Parcon is a Filipino freelancer and digital marketing professional with years of experience helping businesses grow through strategy, systems, and virtual team support. He currently supports the Wisconsin Coalition on Student Debt, assisting Executive Director Carole Trone in scaling the organization. Passionate about mentoring, Shan also guides fellow freelancers—especially men—in building confidence, winning clients, and creating lasting impact through online business.