Academic Success
Faces of First Gen
As the number of first-generation college students continues to grow here at SU, we also want to recognize the first-generation Faculty and Staff.
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Hometown: Anaheim, CA Education:
What led you to pursue an education even though no one in your family had?
My parents instilled a passion in pursuing a higher education from when I was child. As immigrants, they felt that a college degree would provide me with a high quality of life, including traveling and a stable lifestyle. As I progressed in my education, my daughter became my inspiration for attaining graduate degrees and doing academic research.
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Hometown: Brownsville, TX Education:
What memories do you have of being a first-generation college student?
As a first-generation college student, I remember grappling with imposter syndrome and frequently questioning my sense of belonging. This feeling surprised me, as I had never experienced it before college. However, when I learned to advocate for myself and seek support, everything changed. I now realize that the challenges I faced have given me the insight to help other students navigate their own unfamiliar territory.
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Hometown: Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Education:
What led you to pursue an education even though no one in your family had?
African parents have a great regard for education. Growing up, my mother always insisted that we attend school as it was the gateway to a better life. The family wanted a (medical) doctor in the lineage, and I think I have managed to compromise and fulfill both their dreams and mine in one. Today, education has allowed me to travel the world, meet and learn about so many different cultures, and eat their food - I love food!
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Carin Perilloux, Associate Professor of Psychology |
Hometown: Naperville, IL Education:
What does being a first-generation college student/grad mean to you? For me, it meant delivering on a lifetime of promise. Growing up, my parents were always telling me I would be the first in our family to go to college, so it was a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. That said, I didn’t always feel like I belonged, but I was eager to prove myself and make my parents proud. In graduate school, however, I really started to feel imposter syndrome. I was even convinced I was the butt of a practical joke and would be asked to leave during the first week - “there was no way I deserved a spot in the UT PhD program!” It took a lot of effort but I persevered and now I am devoted to helping students navigate similar challenges - which usually involves affirming their self-confidence and letting them know it’s okay to ask questions and not know everything (that’s what your instructors and mentors are for)! |
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Hometown: Albuquerque, NM Education:
What does being a first-generation college student/grad mean to you? I was able to fulfill the educational opportunities that my parents worked hard for and had provided for me. My parents believed and emphasized that having an education was the great “equalizer” in our society and afforded you many more opportunities in life. |
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Hometown: Jarrell, TX Education: B.A. Political Science, Southwestern University What advice would you give to an incoming first-generation college student?
Make the most of the resources available to you. Find a mentor and cultivate a strong relationship with them. Step outside your comfort zone and start networking. These are key components of success, both here at Southwestern and in your future endeavors!
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Hayley Harned, Assistant Director of Advising & Retention |
Hometown: Forest Grove, OR Education:
What led you to pursue an education even though no one in your family had?
My parents were the big advocates for me receiving a higher education. High school was a really difficult time for me personally and grade wise, but with a little push from my parents college ended up feeling like the right next step. Now, education and my personal experience holds a huge place in my heart. My growth in college was enormous due to a number of different experiences (both good and bad) and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without those. Education in any form whether that’s the traditional 4 year, a community college, or a technical college is important to gain new life experiences and new skills to take forward with you.
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Hometown: Del Rio, TX Education:
What does being a first-generation college student/grad mean to you? Being the first in my family to graduate college makes me feel both proud and anxious. As grateful as I am to have completed my B.A. and M.A., there are still moments when I feel like I don’t belong in the spaces I’m in or that I haven’t done enough to be considered successful. During those moments, I do my best to remind myself that the spaces I’m in do need me, especially since there hasn’t been someone like me represented in them before. Success is also a broad term which is defined better by the people experiencing it instead of what some collective determines. Within my daily work, I often share personal experiences to help normalize the many challenges first-years face and reassure them that they are not alone in this journey. |
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Jennifer Leach, Director of Advising and Retention |
Hometown: San Antonio, TX Education:
What helped you most during college?
Probably my most used resource was Counseling. I saw a counselor on campus my first-year and my junior/senior years. My mom passed away in high school, and I didn’t really deal with it then. So I finally decided to talk about it in my first-year. In junior and senior year, I had some friend drama and counseling was helpful with that and in navigating other challenges.
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Hometown: Mumbai, India Education:
What motivated you as a first-generation college student? The desire to do better and be better was what motivated me. Every day was a competition to outdo what I did the day before. I saw furthering my education as a golden ticket and was fortunate to have folks in my sphere that encouraged that line of thought. |
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Hometown: Chicago, IL Education:
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Hometown: Rome, NY Education: B.S. Education, Springfield College What does being a first-generation college student/grad mean to you? Being the first in my family carried with it an enormous amount of pride but also responsibility. I felt responsible to not only my immediate family but also to friends and neighbors who were curious and apprehensive about making the leap to attend college. My career has brought my into contact with many first generation college students and I can see the relief in their body language when I share that my experience is so similar to theirs. |
Adriana Ponce, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Amalia Merino, Hispanic Student Success Coordinator
Bryan Kauma, 
Erica Smith ’15, 
Jennifer Frias, Academic Success Coordinator
Leonie Dsouza, Director of Upward Bound
Maurice Wilson, Director of the Professor John Score II Learning Commons
