Patricia McDaniels-Gomez serves as the Tutoring and Dual Enrollment Coordinator for the GEAR UP for LIFE grant at the K20 Center, where she supports college access initiatives and develops educational resources and professional learning opportunities. Previously, she served as GEAR UP O+K=C Project Director and Professional Development Coordinator and taught secondary English Language Arts for 19 years in Oklahoma and New Mexico. McDaniels-Gomez is a doctoral candidate at the University of Oklahoma, a National Board Certified Teacher (2007-2027), and the 2019 Oklahoma Indian Teacher of the Year