Profiles
Fifth-gen Minnesotan, first-gen dean
CEHD Dean Michael Rodriguez leads the university with a renewed perspective in educational research and college readiness.
By Caleb Fravel
Rashné Jehangir’s extraordinary care for first-generation students
Through her advocacy and achievement, the professor of higher education has become a fierce advocate for the students she believes bring many assets — not deficits.
By Ariana Valentin
First-Gen DEI administrator’s impact felt throughout campus community
Whyte’s intersecting identities have led to a life and career committed to education, inclusivity and student achievement.
By Ben Wagner
Daniel Morales builds a university of understanding for first-gen students
The director of classroom climate at the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence helps first-gen students navigate the institution and ensures faculty and advisers understand their unique needs.
By John Henry Sullivan
First-Gen on Campus: The Podcast
AccessU recorded a podcast with three AccessU journalists about their first-gen experiences and why they decided to choose first-gen as AccessU’s community this year.
By Gabrielle Erenstein
First-gen undergraduates find passions and futures as Ronald E. McNair scholars
Three first-generation scholars tell their stories about how the research program shaped their career paths and helped them thrive at college.
By Gabriel Castilho
Reclaiming the Ojibwe language at the University of Minnesota
First-generation Indigenous graduate student Mskwaankwad Rice is working to preserve his endangered ancestral language.
By Elijah Awada
First-Gen alum finds power through poetry
Muna Abdulahi’s storytelling represents the experiences of diverse people with nuance and authenticity.
By Jessy Rehmann
First-Gen Student Elected as USG President
Rahma Ali’s path to the 2024-2025 presidency paves the way for inclusive progress and student empowerment in underrepresented communities.
By Hadeal Rizeq