First-Gen Directory
First-Gen Directory
There are first-gen Blue Hens all across campus. Use the First-Gen Directory to find your flock.
Faculty and staff with the icon have received or will receive a degree from UD specifically.
Check out the Blue Hens below and see their advice to first-gen college students like you, or use the sample email template to reach out.
Marelle Adams
she/her
Take advantage of all the resources, engage at your leisure but get involved and take care of your wellbeing. You got this!
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. - Maya Angelou
Don't be afraid to ask questions. So many people will go out of their way to help you but only if they know you need it.
Jane Case, Ph.D.
she/her
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Questions indicate curiosity—embrace it!
Park Chin
he/him
Don't panic. Just cause you're first-gen doesn't mean you're the first first-gen student.
I graduated from UD in 2024 with a Bachelor's in Sociology and Public Policy and then again in 2025 with a Master's in Urban Affairs & Public Policy! My tip for first-gen students like myself is to take in all that's around you! I was hired full-time after college because I read a newsletter during my first year and applied for a job—you never know where an opportunity will come from! I currently advise the student organization We're First and would love to help you get connected with your First-Gen Flock here at UD!
Please give yourself and others a little grace while learning and managing life. Mistakes and errors happen and are perfect learning opportunities. Don't be too hard on yourself!
Theresa DeMatteis
she/her
Many years ago, I too was a first-generation college student. There were not nearly the number of resources available to me as a student as there are now at the University of Delaware. Take advantage of these resources, ask questions of your advisors, professors, RAs and club moderators to name a few. There are so many people willing to help and support you through your academic journey at UD. All you need to do is ask! Read your emails daily so you don’t miss important information and deadlines. Find your place at UD and connect with others.
Take full advantage of the Career Center! It offers valuable resources to help you build essential skills, including resume writing, interview preparation and career planning.
Stefanie DeVito
she/her
Don't be afraid to ask for help! We don't expect you to know everything and we are here to help you!!
Sarah Dobe-Hund
she/her
Stubborn. That’s how I describe my experience as a first-gen student. I always had to do things the hard way and didn’t ask for help. Sometimes that left me broke, confused and lonely. But I got involved and found supportive friends and staff members to help me along the way and that’s the advice I give to my fellow first-gens: seek out a support system and accept help! And if you are from the Western NY area, come see me—if you came to UD from far away, it’s good to find connections that tie you back to home.
Julia Domínguez
she/her
Don’t be afraid of asking questions.
Jacob Dums, Ph.D.
he/him
Ask for unsolicited advice!! We don't know what we don't know, so we don't even know what to start asking.
Melinda Duncan, Ph.D.
Professors dont bite! Seek out help from faculty/staff. Also, there is no shame in not knowing something. Find a group of the brightest students in your classes to study with. You are not expected to figure things out in isolation.
Hi! My advice is to say "YES!" You never know what opportunity will lead to your next adventure or future connection.
Don't be afraid to change your mind! College is an opportunity to try new things, and begin to figure out what energizes you. Even if you thought you knew what your major and your path was going to be when you arrived, it's never to late to shift gears. Curious as to how? Let's chat!
Go to office hours and introduce yourself to your professors at the beginning of semesters. It'll make it much easier when you need support, help, have questions later down the line.
Jennifer Graber
she/her
Give yourself grace as you learn the ropes. You’ve earned your spot, and there is a whole community of people on campus who genuinely want to see you succeed. Use the resources available to you!
Please make sure to stay connected and in communication with your professors, advisors and other partners on campus. Use all of the campus resources available to you.
You've got this! And when you need it, there are so people who are ready to help answer your questions and figure things out with you. You are not alone and you don't have to figure everything out all at once.
There is no one way to get your degree and its okay to change your mind. Take your time, set SMART goals, be resilient and pursue what speaks to your curiosity and hapiness.
Joyce Dennis Henderson
she/her
As a first-generation college graduate, I understand both the aspirations and the challenges students face on their educational and professional journeys. I am passionate about helping students succeed by providing guidance, encouragement and practical support as they pursue internships, prepare for graduate school and launch meaningful careers.
As a proud University of Delaware alumna and Fulbright Scholar, I bring expertise in career development, employer partnerships and student success. Throughout my career, I have helped students secure internships and full-time positions with nonprofit organizations, government agencies and private-sector employers.
One of my greatest joys is building meaningful connections with students. By drawing on my understanding of today's professional landscape, I empower students to thrive, compete with confidence and achieve their academic and career goals.
Nicole Hernandez
she/her
Ask for help! Higher Ed is not intuitive and there are more resources on campus to help you than you would think.
Take advantage of all the resources, engage at your leisure but get involved and take care of your wellbeing. You got this!
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. - Maya Angelou
I am a PROUD first-generation two-time college graduate! I grew up in South Jersey and attended Stockton University for my undergraduate career. I graduated in 2019 with my B.S. in Biology and went on to attend Rowan University where I graduated in 2025 with my M.A. in Higher Education Administration. I began my journey at UD last summer and I am happy to support the Blue Hen Community.
One quick tip I’d share with first-generation students is to seek JOY! There is a continuous narrative around perseverance, resilience and hard work when speaking about the first-gen population. However, we can’t forget that we deserve JOY, discovering ourselves and finding our passions while being trailblazers in our families.
I graduated from Pitt with a BA in Sociology and went on to receive my Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work from there, as well. I didn't really have the language to know I was a first-gen student when I was in school, and I couldn't always put my finger on why I felt different from other students. I often couldn't relate to other students who didn't have to worry about tuition bills, rent or the cost of groceries, and sometimes it made me a little resentful of my peers.
Sometimes it was also hard to go home over holidays and breaks. My family were my biggest champions, but I often felt like there was a growing canyon between us as my values and beliefs changed during college. Navigating those complexities with people you love deeply is/was hard! Finding your people and connecting with other first-gen students is so key, because it makes you feel less alone in your experience!
Lisa Lim-Pahl
she/her
Ask as many questions as you need. You don't know what you don't know. I was "the girl with a million questions."
Danielle Lopez
she/her
I am a UD alumna. I received my undergrad degree in psychology from UD. I then went on to get my graduate degree in social work from Widener University. I came back to work for UD because I wanted to make a positive impact on student success.
One quick tip for first-gen students: Reach out to supports early on. Don't wait until you feel like you are under water!
Chad Lowe
he/him
Connect with a faculty member as a mentor.
Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want or need! A lot of spaces have the resources but don’t always advertise the best places to look for them.
Ask for help!
Tricia Monnig
she/her
Connect with your advisor and faculty—YOU are why we are here!
Always remember that motivation gets you moving but determination keeps you going!
Pamela Norris
she/her
Don't be shy about asking for help! Faculty and staff love to help.
Sean Oakes
he/him
Get connected, make friends, don't be afraid to ask questions. UD has a ton of experiences and resources for students so do not leave here with any regrets!
Talk to your professors and let them know you are first-gen. They can guide you.
Kate Dempsey Pfister
she/her
You might be accustomed to going at it alone, figuring things out for yourself and stubbornly forging your own path out of necessity. These qualities have helped you get where you are today, and they will always come in handy! However, if I could go back in time, I would join more clubs, make more connections and ask for more help. I was a first-gen high school and college graduate, and I just thought that I had to figure everything out by myself (and assumed everyone else was doing the same.) There are so many people who would love to offer insight, guidance or support; don't be afraid to open up your world and ask questions!
As a first-generation student, remember that you do not have to navigate college alone. Make time to take advantage of the many resources available on campus. Faculty and staff genuinely care about you, are invested in your success and are ready to help, but it starts with taking the first step.
Meet with your academic advisor, connect with the Career Center, visit the Writing Center and never hesitate to ask questions or seek support when you need it. The sooner you reach out, the more opportunities you'll have to thrive both academically and personally.
I am an alumna of University of Delaware, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with minors in Theatre and Dance in 2019. After taking a gap year, I pursued my Master's degree in Higher Education at Virginia Tech where I graduated in 2022.
I am from Wilmington, Delaware and had always wanted to get out of the state when I went to college but I applied to UD "just to be safe." I toured campus and absolutely fell in love with it. During my time at UD, i was involved in many things: served on executive boards of clubs, joined a sorority, joined music ensembles, became a Resident Assistant and served as both an Orientation Leader and Student Coordinator for New Student Orientation. These roles defined my time in college and made me appreciate everything UD had given to me.
So when I graduated from Virginia Tech, I knew I wanted to come back home to UD. I am so grateful to be back here and to serve this incredible community. If I had one tip for my first-gen students it would be this: make the most out of your time here. Ask questions, find what you are passionate about, and get involved. Not only is this a guaranteed way to make your experience more enjoyable, but it will also help you succeed academically. And never be afraid to ask for help!
Jennifer was born and raised in Staten Island, NY. She earned her Bachelors degree in Psychology from Monmouth University and later went on to earn a Masters in Education from Rutgers University and her Doctorate in Education from West Chester University.
Through her experience being an employed student during her undergraduate career and supervising student employees, she developed a professional and scholarly passion for understanding the experiences of employed students and providing broader access to employment and professional opportunities for students. This is how she found herself working in the Career Center at University of Delaware, specifically for the Career Access and Mobility team.
One piece of advice she has for first-gen students is to find ways to develop connections and mentorship with faculty and staff here. They can be so resourceful to your success.
I grew up in Central Florida and made my way to the University of South Florida where I first studied Fine Arts but eventually got my B.A. in Economics. It was there when I joined my sorority Sigma Delta Tau (SDT). Following graduation with sights on working in Higher Ed as a Greek Advisor I went on to pursue my M.Ed. with focus in higher education student affairs from the University of West Florida (UWF). I've also completed certifications in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace (USF), Program Design (LTS), QPR Suicide Prevention, Anti-Violence Advocate (UPenn), Hazing Prevention (HPO) and completed Excel Summit for FSL Directors (Rise Partnerships).
I currently serve as the Director of Fraternity & Sorority Leadership and Learning (FSLL) at the University of Delaware and have had a 15+ year career as a FSA previously working at University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and UWF. I am an active volunteer in the fraternity and sorority industry, serving on the SDT National Executive Board as a Vice President and Chief Panhellenic Officer for the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) where I also am a current RFM and Total Specialist. I've also volunteered and consulted for several fraternal organizations and am a recipient of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) Shelly Sutherland Outstanding Volunteer Award and Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award.
I live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with my husband, who is also in Higher Education and member of a fraternity, and our two children. I love to continue my talent and passion for visual art through my Etsy shop and creative outlets in my job.
My tip for first-gen students is to take the time to explore who you are, what drives your energy, and where your passion and talent lies. Never be afraid to ask the question "what am I not asking that I should be asking, and likely don't know about" as there are so many resources on campus that you might not know about and that can help you, I know looking back now that I could have had so much more support in college as a first-gen if I just asked more questions.
You belong here. Ask questions, use campus resources and remember that seeking help is a strength, not a weakness.
Jodie Scott
she/her
Hello there! My name is Jodie Scott and I am FIRST-GEN Proud! I graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2016 with my bachelor's degree in Nursing. I immediately began my nursing career at Lewis Gale Medical Center in Roanoke, VA, within their Cardiac Critical Care Unit. In 2018, I became the unit's youngest clinical coordinator, where I would assist in unit staff scheduling, hospital policy adherence and patient bed management. In 2020, I began Travel Nursing when my husband and I moved to Delaware, sight unseen! In 2022, I applied to UD's Student Health Services and was offered a position within their Primary Care Department. In 2023, I was offered the role of Immunization and Allergy Nurse Clinic Manager, where I remain today.
As a first generation graduate, I am forever grateful for my family's sacrifices that gave me the opportunity to become the person I am today. I know from first hand experience the challenges of navigating a world that is so unknown and being alone in it. My quick tips for any future first-gen student is that:
#1: You do BELONG! Don't let yourself think differently.
# 2: Soak every moment in.
#3: Go to your professors' office hours.
Tara Stasik
she/her
Get to know your professors and advisors. Introduce yourself early and meet with them at least once a semester. They may turn out to be your support system and biggest cheerleaders.
Prioritize your education but don't forget to have fun!
Hello! I am originally from Annapolis, MD and was the first in my family to go to college. During my college application process, I knew I wanted to try and attend an out-of-state school, so I navigated both being first-gen and going outside of my home state for school.
I attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA for both my bachelor's degree in Political Science and my master's degree in College Student Personnel Administration. I ended up at UD after an amazing internship with the Orientation and Transition Programs Office that I completed as part of my master's program. Now, I am working towards earning my doctorate (Ed.D.) in Education Leadership from the University of Delaware!
My biggest piece of advice for first-gen students is to do your research and talk to staff at Universities to better understand their processes around admissions and financial aid. Every school is different, and people want to help you figure it out!
There are more opportunities than you can imagine—read everything and ask questions!
Introductory Email Template
Good (morning/afternoon/evening)!
My name is [insert name] and I am a [insert academic year] first-generation college student here at UD majoring in [insert major]. I found your name in the First-Gen Directory and wanted to reach out and ask for support with [insert question]. I’m happy to meet in person or over Zoom if you have time to spare. What does next week look like for you?
Sincerely,
[Name]