Stories | First Generation Initiative

Refuge - Jessica Ison

First generation college student Jessica Ison found refuge at UC Davis. The FilAm community has helped her connect with her heritage, while the Women's Resources and Research Center provided a sense of belonging when she first arrived on campus. An environmental toxicology major, Jessica is also a talented poet.

Stories: Students

Adoption Changed Everything - Elizabeth Nuñez

Elizabeth Nuñez works for the Undergraduate Research Center as an Associate Director. Read Elizabeth's story on how she ended up in college and how her background helped her.

Stories: Staff

Fear as a Means to Personal Growth - Joe Lee

Joe Lee works in the CA&ES Dean's Office as an academic advisor. He is a graduate of UC Davis and has worked on campus since his graduation.

Stories: Staff

Failures Are The Best Motivation - Miguel Paulo Flores

Miguel Paulo Flores is in his last year before achieving his Bachelor's degree, but his education is not stopping here. After college, he will then work towards becoming a consumer or product analyst to support his mother and brother. And of course, he wants to make them proud!

Stories: Students

Setbacks are not a reason to give up - Leslie Olivares

Lesllie Olivares works at the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety where she is part of their education and outreach team. In the fall, she will attend graduate school to pursue an MS in Nutrition Biology.

Stories: Faculty

A Journey through Five Colleges - Dave Ivan Cruz

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?

Stories: Students

Jeanette Ruiz - FirstGen Story (Video)

Jeanette Ruiz Department of Communication

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

Stories: Faculty

Pave the Way for your Interests - Carole Hom

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.

Stories: Faculty

An Ode to Mom and Dad - Ariana Nagainis

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.

Stories: Students

Marina Crowder (Video)

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.

Stories: Faculty