First Generation Staff and Faculty

Remember, as the First Generation student you are the expert in what it is like to go to college. While there is no one to help with advice from their own experience, there is also no one to tell you how your quest has to be accomplished. Use this knowledge to chart your own course! 

Reach out, take the initiative to ask questions and accept support. We want you to succeed and enjoy this college experience. 

Understanding available opportunities was my biggest challenge as a first generation college student; particularly when it came to finding direction with areas of study and understanding future employment options. All college students experience challenges so support for those common challenges are often built into the system. Know there are unique and specific issues facing first generation college students. Those are often not addressed university wide because they differ from common challenges. The unique needs of First Generation students can be misunderstood. Find someone knowledgeable about those needs and reach out for support. At UNCA there are a lot of people willing to help guide students through these challenges and there is no shame in asking for help. 

Growing up I was constantly told that to get a good job I needed to go to college. But when I got here I found that none of the classes I was required to take had anything to do with job prep! I couldn’t understand at the time how ancient history, the arts, or lab sciences would be valuable to me in the job market, but now I consider these experiences the most valuable of my college career. It turns out, though correct in saying college would lead to better jobs, no one ever told me why. At a liberal arts college you learn more than the skills that will get you jobs, you learn to be a lifelong learner, to develop yourself and your mental skills, and ultimately how to make yourself more valuable to employers wherever you may find yourself. Though the path I took after graduation wasn’t a straight one, I ended up in one of the best jobs on earth, with supportive colleagues and a chance to give back to the next generation.

Kenneth Bogert, UNCA Alumnus ‘04 

On many occasions you are going to be filled with ambivalence; you will embrace being pulled away from your upbringing at times and at others you will want to push back against the new knowledge you are acquiring. It is perfectly normal to feel both of these mutually exclusive feelings. In my experience, it will take time to reconcile the person you are becoming with the person you have been, but it is absolutely essential to become this new, better version of yourself. You owe it to yourself to bravely move onward and upward. 

Don't ever be reluctant to ask someone to explain a process, procedure, or deadline in greater detail. Higher Ed uses all kinds of acronyms and has some very unique processes, so make sure you have a full understanding of key information and deadlines. 

Blu Buchanan - Sociology

University Fellow

bbuchan5@unca.edu

828.251.6978

Zageir 218

Be open to what you want to do with your education. When all you observe growing up is hard factory work, farming, etc. it is hard to picture yourself doing something different. Choose wisely and do something you love. 

Cale Burrell - Registrar's Office

Registrar Systems Lead

clburrel@unca.edu

828.250.3808

Ramsey 019

Dr. Deena Burris - Management & Accountancy

Associate Professor

dburris@unca.edu

Delany 115

Read up on how to manage and overcome imposter syndrome. Go to office hours regularly. Get to know your professors and have them know the quality of your work, your career goals, and ask them a lot of questions about career opportunities, paths, graduate school, etc. Build your professional network while in college. Have a professional presence on LinkedIn. Find challenging internships and part time work in professional positions. Realize the management field has multiple tracks, and not all job titles with the word "manager" or "supervisor" in them are actually executive track positions with upward mobility. Believe in yourself and be proud that you are a college student with high potential! 

As a first-generation student, it was extremely helpful for me to have a mentor who demystified some of the hidden curriculum of higher ed. My mentor was proactive about helping me navigate situations where I lacked other mentors to turn to and was so good at this that I never felt the burden of being a first-generation student in these spaces. As a faculty member at UNCA, I strive to support first-generation college students and students from minoritized groups in spaces where they may lack other mentors, as I have come to realize the positive impact that this can have on student success. 

Reach out to your professors! Don't be shy about inquiring into what "Everybody knows." 

1. Never be afraid to ask questions.

2. Seek out your resources early - even if you don't think you need them yet.

3. Don't feel like you need to have everything figured out or know all the answers. Trust me, there are a lot of people around you who don't have things as figured out as you think they do!

4. Take time to enjoy college. Find your community, challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone, and try new things. You might be surprised by what you learn about yourself or what you discover you love.

I'm always happy to share my experience or meet with students - especially if you need support figuring out your career path! Feel free to reach out!

Kimberly Nava Eggett - Education

(She/Her/Ella)

Visiting Professor

knavaegg@unca.edu

828.350.4583

Zaiger Hall

Renuka Gusain - Interdisciplinary/International Studies

Assistant Professor

rgusain@unca

Zeis 216 

Jake Hagedorn - Environmental Studies

Lecturer

jghagedo@unca.edu

828.553.9138

Rhoades Robinson 160

"What you do in college, sets the feast or famine, that you and your family are going to eat off of the rest of your life"

Get involved, challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone, don't be afraid to ask for help, build relationships/network, and most importantly, believe in yourself because we believe in you!

Emily Herzog - Africana Studies, Interdisciplinary/International Studies & Economics

Administrative Assistant

eherzog@unca.edu

Karpen 159 / Zeis 205

Herman Holt - Chemistry and Biochemistry; Office of the Deans

Dean of Natural Sciences and Professor of Chemistry and Biology

hholt@unca.edu

828.232.5167

Phillips 216C

Jeff Konz - Institutional Research, Effectiveness, and Planning

Director of Institutional Research

jkonz@unca.edu

828.251.6570

Lipinsky 201B

 You may not realize it yet but you are impressive and you are a huge motivator for someone. You got it! 

Leah Greden Mathews - Economics

Professor and Chair

lmathews@unca.edu

828.251.6551

Karpen 147

Be curious - of other students, of your professors, of yourself. Ask questions, listen well, and speak up when you have something to say. 

Ray Michaels - Information Technology Services

Applications Analyst

rmichael@unca.edu

828.250.3921

Dykeman Hall 208 

Actively seek out resources (people and help labs [e.g., writing or mathematics]) that improve your chances of success. Passivity is not an option if you want to graduate! Stop by my office and chat about strategies! 

Keenan Mosley - Academic Success Center

(She/Her)

Student Success Specialist

kmosley2@unca.edu

828.250.2368

Bottom Floor of the Library

The admission and enrollment process can be stressful and overwhelming. Please know that you have support here at UNC Asheville throughout your entire college experience and beyond, from starting the application to getting help completing your FAFSA to picking out classes....all the way through to graduation. I didn't think that people at the college I went to were there to help me along the way, but I can honestly say I was wrong! Don't hesitate to reach out, we are literally here to make this journey a good one for you. 

Chris Nicolay - Biology

Professor

cnicolay@unca.edu

828.232.5149

ZS 314

Chris Parrish - Admissions and Financial Aid

Director of Admissions Operations

cnicolay@unca.edu

828.255.6494

Brown Hall

Rodger Payne - Religious Studies

Professsor and chair

rpayne@unca.edu

828.250.2397

Zageir 138

Don't be afraid to ask questions, it's OK not to know how to deal with FAFSA, tutoring, choosing classes, or even graduating. There's always someone there to help. 

Being the first in your family to attend university is HARD. You probably won't have a blueprint for this journey, and sometimes your family may not understand what you are trying to do and therefor not offer a lot of support. Sometimes your family may not be able provide support for other reasons, and a lack of moral support and financial support can make climbing the mountain even harder. Not having someone to show you the ropes can make it harder. Being a first-gen student is a very complex experience and I hope that anyone who needs help or guidance knows they are welcome to reach out to me. 

Being a first gen student can be surreal and overwhelming. I remember feeling like the only college experiences I was familiar with were those portrayed on TV and movies so I was a bit surprised by the reality of it all. Plugging into resources on campus really helped me get through the challenges and embrace the excitement and opportunity that university life offers so don't hesitate to use the resources around you (Dean of Students, Counseling, Career Services, Tutoring labs, etc.) and let your advisors and professors know what you need. Whether it feels like it or not, those folks are all cheering for you and want to see you succeed!

So many things, but above all: be out and proud! 

Imposter syndrome is real--I still feel it. But you belong here too, as much as or more than anyone else. You help us fulfill our mission to deliver a quality liberal arts education to everyone regardless of privilege. You help me feel I belong.

During my time as a student at UNC Asheville, I worked, went to school, and helped in a major way with care taking for my family. I came from a low SES, rural background. We only had one car so my mom would drop me off on my way to work and pick me up after her shifts. I took care of my brothers in the evening, then got started on my own homework. Being on campus all day allowed me to use resources like the library and explore clubs and volunteer opportunities. I also grew to love the botanical gardens as a stress relief and sanctuary from my hectic life. I participated in undergraduate research and found an on-campus job that allowed me to explore my love for community engagement. My faculty advisor encouraged me to pursue graduate school and I knew I wanted to help people who came from difficult situations like myself see that they have so many options in their life and they are not limited by money or background. 

Your faculty at UNCA want you to succeed! Reach out to us so we can reach out to you. 

Tiece M Ruffin - Africana Studies & Education

Director of Africana Studies & Professor of Africana Studies & Education

truffin@unca.edu

828.250.2361

Zeis 216

Jason Schmeltzer - Chemistry & Biochemistry

Senior Lecturer

jschmelt@unca.edu

828.232.5172

Zeis 114

You are not alone; set aside blocks of time every day to study; once you have your work done for the day, do something fun; be sure to get involved in a UNCA student group. 

As a first generation graduate, it was always like I was creating my own roadmap, reinventing the wheel, and blazing my own trail. I'm not going to lie, it was really difficult without the advice or guidance from a guardian to help me navigate what college could or should look like. But, here I am -- I went to graduate school, and now I teach classes at AB Tech and programming through UNCA, and I'm now in a position to help other students navigate something really complicated and difficult, but worth it in the end! 

My advice will always center around remembering and honoring those that have come before us. I often think of those that have made this opportunity possible for me, especially the mentors along the way. Also in remembering, I think of what will likely be their experience at times when they return to family and friends who are not pursuing advanced degrees and how they now can be seen as the "outsider, the exotic one". In these moments, I found it best to embrace the questions and tell them as much as I could. I can definitely connect with enthusiasm to this group as my story is quite complex and continues to be the subject of all my artist's talks! I am happy to share it in longer format. 

When I was an undergraduate, I wish I had known to speak up and let my advisors know I was first-generation and therefore unaware of a lot of resources and opportunities that may have been helpful--but about which I didn't even know enough to ask! 

Tacci Smith - Academic Affairs

(She/Her)

Director of First year Experience  Honors Program

vsmith7@unca.edu

828.258.7871

213A Highsmith Union

Robert Tatum - Economics

Professor and Director of the University Honors Program

rtatum@unca.edu

828.251.6569

Karpen 156

Samer Traboulsi - History

Professor

straboul@unca.edu

828.251.6298

WHI 205

Find or make your own opportunities & don't take "No" for an answer. 

I graduated in 2016 with a degree in History and a minor in Environmental Studies. I had no idea I would go on to be an Archivist when I first started at UNC Asheville after ten years of previously working as a nurse. Don't limit yourself and always realize you can reinvent yourself at any time throughout your life. I was 32 before I got my undergraduate degree and I'm about to graduate with my Master's degree at age 37! 

As a first-gen student, the college process can seem intimidating and difficult to navigate, especially if you feel like you can't ask for help from your parents. The resources available to students can be invaluable if you know what is available to you. If you don't know, ask! Personally, I became friends with the administrative assistant for my major, and I always went to her with my questions. I felt like they were silly and I should have known the answers, but the reality was, I didn't! She was so gracious and understanding. UNCA staff and faculty all seem to be just as helpful, but if you need help and you don't know where to go or want to not feel judged for not knowing or asking for help, I always try to make myself available to assist. 

Coming to college, I did not even know the questions I should be asking. My father had a sixth grade education; didn't read much, but he was a savvy math person. My parents worked very hard to ensure college was an option for me. First gens never lose sight of the privilege we have to be here and make change here. 

I remember feeling like I had to handle everything on my own, but college got a lot easier once I stopped trying to do that. Ask questions, talk to your professors, and be open to letting people help you!