First-Generation Symposium

Madalyn Alexander received her bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Services from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She is a current MSW candidate at the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor. Madalyn’s work experience involves working with vulnerable teens and young adults in mental health settings, providing community living services assistance and emotional regulation services, and working with school-aged children to support their advancement into society. She serves as the CEW+ programming intern, assisting counselors and Program Managers with various projects.

At the University of Michigan, Dr. Nadia Bazzy serves as inaugural Director of Student Initiatives and Partnerships within Student Life, overseeing key divisional initiatives including the First Year Experience, First-Generation Students, M-Lead, and Religious, Spiritual, and Secular Life. She previously directed Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) from 2017 to 2025 and held leadership roles across campus, supporting the Trotter Multicultural Center and interim director of Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center. Dr. Bazzy is also the founder of the Family and Couple Therapy Center, a former gubernatorial appointee to the Michigan Board of Marriage and Family Therapy, and an AAMFT Clinical Fellow. She earned a doctorate in education from New York University and has lectured nationally for over 20 years. Her work centers on sustainable systems change across interpersonal and institutional settings.

Gabriella Boufford is a Counselor at CEW+ at the University of Michigan, where she provides educational and career counseling to students, staff, faculty, and community members. She designs and facilitates workshops that strengthen career-building skills and leads initiatives focused on financial empowerment and student support. Gabriella holds a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan.

Sharon Burch currently serves as the Interim Co-Director of the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) at the University of Michigan. She manages programs and operations that strengthen student success and help create a campus community where students feel welcomed, supported, and connected. Her work emphasizes collaborative partnerships, academic achievement, and holistic development, preparing students to thrive throughout college and in life beyond campus. Through its breadth of programs, OAMI expands access to opportunities and resources, with particular attention to students whose experiences and needs may place them at the margins of university life.

Sharon earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees in Education from the University of Michigan. She brings more than 35 years of experience in higher education, spanning undergraduate recruitment, admissions, scholarships, pre-college enrichment, and college student success programs.

Advocacy for students has been a driving force throughout her career. She has developed and supported numerous programs that recognize students’ talents and promise, address barriers to achievement, and help them pursue their goals. She considers it a privilege to contribute to their journeys.

Sharon has served on numerous professional and community boards and committees and has received multiple awards and recognitions for her contributions to student success and her leadership in advancing positive change.

Rosie Ceballo is dean of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts and a professor in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies.

Dean Ceballo earned her B.A. in psychology from Yale University and her Ph.D. in clinical and developmental psychology from the University of Michigan. She was a faculty member at the University of Michigan for 26 years and previously held several administrative roles.

Before returning to the University of Michigan as dean of LSA in 2024, she served as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Georgetown University.

Dean Ceballo is a nationally recognized, interdisciplinary scholar whose research examines the strengths and resilience of families living in poverty, with a focus on adolescents who experience community violence.

Dr. Norris Chase serves within the emerging First-Gen Pathways Initiative within the College of Literature, Science, and Arts (LSA) where he is a part of the team responsible for scaling support for first-generation and limited income students within the college.

A scholar, practitioner, and proud Detroit Native, Dr. Chase has committed his career to cultivating learning environments that foster resilience, agency, cultural wealth, and equity for all students. With more than 15 years in higher education, Dr. Chase aligns vision, strategy, and organizational leadership to support students in their pursuit of the life-changing outcomes of obtaining higher education.

Prior to joining the university, Dr. Chase served for over a decade in senior administrative roles across various institution types, geographical landscapes, and teams providing strategic and operational oversight for a wide array of co-curriculum, student success and student engagement programs, units, and divisions. Dr. Chase has also taught courses at the undergraduate level and served on local non-profit boards and professional associations nationally.

As a proud first-generation graduate whose life was transformed by college, Dr. Chase believes in the power of mentorship, literacy, and higher education collectively.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Dr. Chase is an aspirational foodie who enjoys spending time with family and friends while cheering on the Detroit Pistons and the Oakland University basketball teams.

Joe Colangelo serves as the director of the Office of New Student Programs (ONSP) at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. In this role, Joe oversees the administration and operations of ONSP and works closely with partners across campus on key transitional programs, including new student orientation.

Joe has spent his entire professional career at the University of Michigan. Prior to his current position, he served as both an assistant and associate director in ONSP, as a recruiting coordinator for the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and in Residence Education as a hall director.

Joe is actively involved in leadership roles within NODA, the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education, currently serving a term on their board of directors.

He holds a master of science in college student personnel from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a bachelor of arts in history from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Angela D. Dillard is the inaugural Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at the University of Michigan. In this role, she is specially charged with bringing aspects of the national student success movement to Michigan and is responsible for advancing continual improvements in the educational experience for more than 35,000+ undergraduate students in partnership with undergraduate serving schools and colleges on the Ann Arbor campus.

As a member of the U-M faculty, Dr. Dillard is the Richard A. Meisler Collegiate Professor of Afroamerican & African Studies and History in LSA. She is an interdisciplinary scholar who specializes in American intellectual history, particularly around issues of race, religion and politics — on both the left and the right sides of the political spectrum. She enjoys bringing her scholarship to bear on contemporary debates about student success and higher ed.

Katie Fredline is a proud first-generation graduate, transfer student, and UM alumna. She transferred to the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor from Michigan State University in her sophomore year to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in Higher Education – College Student Affairs Leadership from Grand Valley State University.

Katie serves as the Program Director for the Empower & Thrive Initiative in support & celebration of first-generation college students at the Ross School of Business. While her career has spanned many functional areas in higher education, including residence life, large-scale programming, leadership development, and inclusion & equity work, one thing remains at the center of her work: creating access & opportunities for all students to grow through transformational experiential learning. She believes in the power of collaboration and collective action to create a more accessible, cohesive, and empowering educational experience for all.

Katie is an avid reader, amateur photographer, and an obsessive Survivor fan. In her free time, Katie can be found attending a concert with friends, hiking with her dog, Ollie, or watching Michigan sports with her husband, Evan.

Energized by people, culture, and making things happen, Joelle brings a creative perspective to strategic leadership and project management in career development. With 14 years of experience in higher education and roots in special education and college student development, she thrives on collaboration, transforming big ideas into human-centered solutions that drive meaningful, inclusive change. Joelle supervises professional staff on the career education team and past graduate students, prioritizing their growth while maintaining a focus on inclusivity. She has led the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Big Ten Network Knowledge Community for several years and served on the executive board for the Career Services Network at Michigan, championing initiatives such as CliftonStrengths and New Staff Orientation. Certified by Gallup in CliftonStrengths, Joelle leverages these insights to lead cross-functional teams and tackle complex projects to create a positive impact. Her work is driven by creative ideas and diverse perspectives, and she is dedicated to enhancing students’ career journeys. As a former first-generation college student, Joelle is particularly committed to motivating and supporting students from all backgrounds. She holds a Master’s in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University and a degree in Special Education and Teaching from Western Michigan University.

Hector Galván currently serves as the Interim Co-Director of the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) at the University of Michigan, where he leads initiatives focused on student academic success, and belonging. His work centers on strengthening institutional support systems for first-generation, low-income and historically marginalized students through direct student support, cross-campus partnerships, and university-wide programming.

A Detroit native and first-generation college graduate, Hector earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in Higher Education from Eastern Michigan University. He is passionate about advancing educational opportunity, addressing systemic barriers to student success, and building institutions that are more responsive to the needs and experiences of working-class and historically marginalized communities.

Sam is a proud first-generation undergraduate and graduate student with a strong passion for serving students and thinking critically about higher education equity. She is currently wrapping up her Master’s program this December and is looking for jobs to continue advocating for college students at the policy level.

Rashné Jehangir, PhD. is a learner, a scholar- practitioner and equal opportunity educator. She holds degrees from Lawrence University and two graduate degrees from the University of Minnesota where she is Professor of Higher Education and recently named the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education and Education Opportunity Programs in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota.
She is the founding Director of the First Gen Institute where her team works to translate research into systemic change for first-generation students, faculty and staff. She was the inaugural co-editor of the Journal of First-generation Student Success.

She spent the first decade of her career in student affairs and has strong roots in the federally funded TRIO SSS and McNair Scholars Programs which provided fertile ground for key questions in her research inquiry. Her research interests focus on the experience of low-income, first-generation college and graduate students, faculty and staff; critical pedagogy and identity development; design and structure of undergraduate and graduate programs; and the role of partnerships between academia and student affairs.

Her scholarship is featured in several journals including Journal of College Student Development, Innovative Higher Education, Urban Education and the Journal of the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition and the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. Her latest book co-authored with 3 first-generation graduate students is Decoding the Academy: A Roadmap for First-generation College Students Through Graduate Education is an open-access text available online.

Lanora Johnson is the Director of Sociology Opportunities for Undergraduate Leadership (SOUL), a University of Michigan program empowering first-generation college students majoring in sociology. In this role, she connects students to research opportunities and graduate mentorships, while providing one-on-one advising and helping the students build community with those who share the first-gen identity. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Government at Morehead State University in 2015 and her doctorate in Sociology at the University of Michigan in 2026. Her primary research and teaching areas include issues of inequality across poverty, gender, and space within the United States. She is a proud first-generation college student and is committed to helping other first-generation and low-income college students navigate their paths to success.

Valorie is a first-year student at the University of Michigan with a passion for medicine and education. Throughout high school, she served as a student representative on her local school board, advocating for student success, and held leadership roles in several student organizations. She is also passionate about celebrating Hmong culture and creating opportunities for future generations. Through her academics and community engagement, she hopes to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others.

Amin is a student affairs professional from Miami, Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree as a first-generation student in Communication Arts from Florida International University (FIU). Paws up! At Indiana University (IU), he served as a Graduate Supervisor for Residential Programs and Services at Collins Living-Learning Center. He also completed two semester-long practicums and a summer internship experience with New Student Orientation and served as Director of Technology for the Student Personnel Association. Later, as part of FIU’s Office of Orientation and Family Programs, I served as the Program Coordinator for the Orientation Peer Advisor program. Currently, Amin is a Program Manager for the University of Michigan’s Trotter Multicultural Center and Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, working on Latine and Arab heritage month celebrations, welcome programs for new students, and advising La Casa, a Latine student organization.

Christine Simonian (she/her) is the Associate Director of the CRLT Theatre Program. She earned her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Theatre and Drama from Northwestern University in 2016. She has taught classes in acting, theatre history, and theory; and has worked as both a dramaturg and a performer. Previously, Christine was an Assistant Director for Faculty Programs and Services at Columbia University’s Center for Teaching and Learning and a Graduate Associate at Northwestern University’s Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching. She has published work in The Journal of Diversity and Equity in Educational Development, The Journal of Faculty Development, Theatre Journal, Theatre Survey, and Theatre Topics.

VaNessa Thompson (she/her/hers), Ph.D., M.Sc., is an academic program manager for the University of Michigan’s Rackham Graduate School.  In this role, she manages graduate student professional development programming, especially for master’s students and graduate students in the social sciences.  She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership while serving as a CORE Program Coordinator for the Center for Multicultural Initiatives at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.  Before her doctoral work, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a master’s degree in Technical and Professional Communication, along with a Writing for the Digital Age certificate.

VaNessa loves the classroom.  VaNessa is currently an adjunct faculty member in the English department at Oakland Community College (OCC).  She has also been an adjunct instructor at LTU, OU, and the Engineering Society of Detroit.  In these roles, she has taught a variety of topics, including professional communication, technical writing and leadership.

Also, VaNessa’s love for social media (@heydrvanessa) is more than just a hobby.  With 15,000+ followers across platforms, she shares insightful reflections and strategies for navigating college on and off campus as a student and a higher education professional, with heart, honesty, and humor!

When VaNessa isn’t interacting with students or taking classes, you can find her playing video games on the Switch or Xbox, singing (or yelling) at the top of her lungs, dancing around, practicing music, or spending time with friends and family.

Dr. John A. Vasquez serves as the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success and Senior Director of the Comprehensive Studies Program (CSP) at the University of Michigan. In this role, Dr. Vasquez provides strategic leadership to advance inclusive excellence, develop high-impact student success initiatives, and foster cross-campus partnerships aligned with CSP’s mission. As a two-time University of Michigan alumnus and former CSP student, he brings over 25 years of experience in academic leadership, research, and student support, having worked across rural, urban, and flagship institutions. His national reputation as a student success strategist is bolstered by securing over $10 million in grant funding, managing institutional transformation initiatives, and presenting on topics such as academic advising reform, student belonging, and culturally responsive leadership.

Outside of his professional commitments, Dr. Vasquez is passionate about mentoring first-generation and historically underserved students, exploring the intersection of equity and well-being, and building communities where everyone can thrive. He is passionate about building community, sharing stories, and mentoring first-generation and underrepresented students. Dr. Vasquez also enjoys gardening, hiking, and kayaking, especially in and around the Great Lakes region. As he returns to lead CSP, Dr. Vasquez looks forward to collaborating with faculty, staff, and students to help shape the next chapter of CSP—one grounded in purpose, community, and transformative impact. He is especially excited to return “home” to the University of Michigan to help lead the program that shaped his own academic journey, ever dedicated to ensuring that all students are supported, valued, and empowered to succeed.

Chloe Unrein (she/they) is the Graduate Program Coordinator with the LSA Department of Sociology. Chloe supports the department’s graduate students and graduate committees, including the Committee on the Administration of Graduate Affairs (CAGA) and the Graduate Admissions Committee. She coordinates the PhD program’s admissions process, the annual graduate recruitment event, departmental workshops, and Graduate School and Beyond series. They also manage academic milestones and processes throughout graduate students’ academic careers, including preliminary exams, annual reviews, doctoral dissertations, and awards. They are a student advocate with experience in inclusion and intergroup dialogue. Additionally, she serves as the Inclusive Culture Liaison for the department, co-chair of the L-GRAD Steering Committee, Rackham Representative on the Executive Board of the Advising Council of the University of Michigan (ACUM), and Accessibility and Belonging Committee Staff Representative in Sociology.

Yinjiao Zhong is a first-year PhD student in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on satellite remote sensing and environmental processes. As both a first-generation college student and an international student, she brings a unique perspective on navigating higher education, adapting to a new academic environment, and finding a sense of belonging. She looks forward to sharing her experiences and connecting with other first-generation students and faculty.