Celebrating first-generation college graduates across UBalt’s community
“College gave me a skill set to compete in the world and influence people. It just changed my life.” – Tyreco Colbert, B.S. ‘23
In our classrooms, offices and alumni network are brave individuals who made history in their families by being the first to graduate with a college degree.
The University of Baltimore community has long been a welcoming home for first-generation college students. For these students, whose parents didn’t earn a bachelor's degree, navigating the college process can be more difficult.
At UBalt, however, these students are in good company with 52.3 percent of the current student population also considered first-generation students.
Additionally, several members of the faculty and staff were once in a similar position, and are poised to offer the guidance and support they know from personal experience can be valuable.
JORDAN DAMON
B.A. in Psychology student
"I come from West Baltimore. Most of my neighborhood is boarded up now because of urban decay. My great-grandparents had to endure sharecropping. So, it's like I'm in this whole other realm of existence of the same Baltimore. Something like that, during my formative years of high school, really shaped how I viewed higher education.”
Read Jordan Damon's story.
AYANNA ROBERTS
B.A. '23 (Digital Communication); M.A. in Integrated Design student
“Out of my grandmother’s three children, my one aunt went to college, and I just saw the things that she was able to do for herself: buy a car, buy a place, not live in fear of losing all that she had worked for.”
Read Ayanna Roberts' story.
ESATOU COLE
B.A. '23 (Psychology)
“I’ve met a wide range of people here, wonderful people, wonderful professors, as well. I was still struggling as a first-generation student; however, with the support that I got, it was easier to navigate.”
Read Esatou's story.
ALAN LYLES
professor in the College of Public Affairs' School of Public and International Affairs and
School of Health and Human Services; Loyola College, B.A. '72, Towson State University, B.S. '77, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, B.S. '80, Johns Hopkins University, M.P.H. '81, Sc.D. '86
“What I am grateful for is that this arc, and the experiences that I’ve been privileged to participate in, have made for a meaningful life.”
Read Alan's story.
DAGEMAWIT KEBEDE
Global Affairs and Human Security graduate student; division operations specialist, Division of Student Success and Support Services; Towson University, B.S. '20
“Receiving my undergraduate education, it was really the fruit of the sacrifice that my parents made, that I made, and also that my community had made for me.”
Read Dagemawit’s story.
NIKKI YEBOAH
B.A. ’23 (Human Services Administration), M.S. in Counseling Psychology student
“Life will happen, and that's fine, but your education is going to be what's important, what's going to give you the keys to success.”
Read more about Nikki.
NICOLE MARANO
vice president for student success; Washington College, B.A. '96; Loyola University Maryland, M.S. '99
“I took every opportunity I could to make my college experience one that I would always remember, one that was enriching and one that I never would take for granted."
JEMIA BELL-SANDY
B.S. '23 (Health Management), M.S. in Health Administration student
“Going to college, graduating seemed impossible. I've been an undergrad for six years, and I thought I would never see—I thought I wouldn't ever get this far.”
Read more about Jemia.
TYRECO COLBERT
B.S. ’23 (Forensic Studies, Forensic Investigation concentration)
“I just feel like helping people is my calling, in a way, and my passion is law enforcement. So, I'll just put those two together and figure that I can do what I love and also heal people at the same time.”
Read Tyreco's story.
COURTNEY TRANG
Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, B.S. '11, M.S. '15
"By the time I graduated with my undergrad, I realized that my education is for me. And even though I could be broke, I could have nothing, nobody can take my education from me."
TONY DULANEY
clinical case manager, Office of Student Support; UMBC, B.A. '11; Towson University, M.A. '13; current D.P.A. student
“For my grandmother, that was her dream for me—to have a college education, to have the ability to have a good career and to be stable and to move forward in life.”
MICHELE WOODWARD
B.S. ’19, M.S. in Business-Finance student
“A lot of people that stop, especially for kid reasons, don't end up going back and the fact that I was able to go back and finish was great.”
Read Michele's story.
SAM DEAN
science lab manager and adjunct professor; Cornell University, B.S. '12, SUNY-ESF, M.S. '17
“I didn't even realize that I was struggling, that I was a person who, as a first-generation college student, is kind of starting behind the starting line.”
Going First is an ongoing series highlighting the students, alumni, faculty and staff part of the UBalt community who were the first in their families to earn a bachelor's degree.