Dave Ivan Cruz '19 International Relations

Tell us about your first generation background. Where did you grow up and what is your family history? What is unique about your story?  

Jeanette Ruiz Department of Communication

Communications professor Jeanette Ruiz shares her first generation college student story. 

Carole Hom, PhD serves as the Academic Coordinator for the UC Davis Post-baccalaureate Research and Education Program (PREP) and has worked as a lecturer for the Mathematics Department.

Ariana Nagainis ‘19 Animal Biology, Minor: Global Disease Biology and Medical Entomology 

I grew up in So. Cal, but my parents and sisters moved from Latvia in 1993, just two years after Latvia re-gained independence from the USSR. My whole family was born there and I still have a lot of family there. My mother frequently sends my extended family money and goods. My first language was Latvian and when I started preschool, the teachers were upset that I could not speak English.

First Generation faculty member and UC Davis alumna Marina Crowder recalls her experiences as a first gen college student. The video is part of the FirstGen First Year Seminars series, produced to help college faculty connect with first gen students.

Jose Macias student majors in Political Science with an emphasis on International Relations. He's used his job experience to help him succeed at school, and found a support group with the Chicanx and Latinx community.

Nicelma King Chair, African American and African Studies

- Interviewed by Foxy Robinson

Lorenzo Zúñiga 

Undergraduate Advisor, Languages and Literatures

This is what makes me Lorenzo Zúñiga 

I am an immigrant who is the son of immigrants. My mother and father grew up in Ceballos, Durango, Mexico. My parents only had the opportunity to study until the third grade;  they were told that they were too old for school and had to work to help out their family.

Chris Nosala earned his PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from UC Davis in June 2018. He researched giardia in Scott Dawson’s lab, where he mentored a number of undergraduates. He received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research in 2018, and was recognized as a strong promoter of women in STEM, and as a confidence builder among his undergraduate mentees. He is currently a postdoc at Indiana University – Bloomington.

At age 7, Ami Tripp entered the United States as a refugee. Her mom inspired her to pursue higher education, and as a first-generation UC Davis alumni, she is committed to giving back to her community.