The Charger Blog

University Celebrates Diverse Community of First-Generation Students

As part of its commemoration of First-Generation Celebration Day, the University of New Haven held an event to foster support and cultivate a sense of belonging for students who are the first in their family to go to college.

November 17, 2021

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

Group shot of first generation students
The event to brought together first-generation students and faculty and staff.

Saige Batza Ӱԭ25 recently took the opportunity to connect with other students at the University who, like her, are the first in their family to go to college. She says it was a great opportunity, and sheӰԭs grateful for the support of the University community.

As part of First-Generation Celebration Day, which was created in 2017 by the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-Generation of Success and is celebrated each year on November 8, the University held a celebration designed to connect first-generation students, faculty, and staff. It was a meaningful way for them to share their experiences and to foster a sense of community.

Elizabeth Hall and friend.
Elizabeth Hall Ӱԭ24 connected with her fellow Chargers at the event.

ӰԭIt means a lot to be able to embrace being a first-generation student,Ӱԭ said Batza, a psychology major. ӰԭIt also means a lot to my family. IӰԭm glad the University offers events like this, and the people here have been amazing.Ӱԭ

Approximately 40 percent of students at the University are, like Batza, first-generation college students. Many who attended the celebration, including Sofia Martinez Ӱԭ22 and Ariana Eastwood Ӱԭ23, are active members of the University community and are dedicated to making sure their fellow Chargers feel a sense of support and belonging.

The event included faculty and staff members, such as Alvin Tran, Sc.D., MPH, an assistant professor of public health and assistant provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and Carrie Robinson, M.S., director of the UniversityӰԭs Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

Alvin Tran, Sc.D., MPH, and Candice Deal, Ph.D. at the event.
Alvin Tran, Sc.D., MPH (left), and Candice Deal, Ph.D. (center), both first-generation students themselves, attended the event.
ӰԭItӰԭs eye-opening how far IӰԭve comeӰԭ

As part of the event, Larry Flanagan Ӱԭ80, Ӱԭ13 Hon., retired president and CEO of and a first-generation student, shared his story with students. After beginning his college career at the University three years after graduating from high school, he experienced moments of excitement and pride (his proud mother called him her Ӱԭlittle professorӰԭ) as well as fear and self-doubt, as he pursued his degree in marketing.

Flanagan told students how he persevered, despite the challenges of being the first person on both sides of his family to attend college. As a student, he fell in love with advertising and dreamed of working on Madison Avenue in New York. He ended up working for one of the largest ad agencies in the world shortly after graduating. He went to become the global chief marketing and communications officer at , where he helped launch the companyӰԭs hugely successful ӰԭPricelessӰԭ campaign.

Larry Flanagan Ӱԭ80, Ӱԭ13 Hon.
Larry Flanagan Ӱԭ80, Ӱԭ13 Hon., shared his story with students.

ӰԭI couldnӰԭt discuss my experience with anyone in my family, as they had no idea what I was going through,Ӱԭ explained Flanagan, a member of the UniversityӰԭs Board of Governors and chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. ӰԭMy mom and my brother and sisters thought that, when I graduated, I was going to open a market. They thought thatӰԭs what marketing was.

ӰԭIӰԭm sure you understand struggling with questions, challenges, and your own internal doubts,Ӱԭ Flanagan continued. ӰԭI believe the challenges I overcame as a first-generation student energized me throughout my career and to today.Ӱԭ

FlanaganӰԭs message resonated with Candice Deal, Ph.D., assistant dean of the UniversityӰԭs Pompea College of Business and a first-generation student herself. Not only did she learn how to navigate college life as a young student, she also adjusted to being in a new country.

ӰԭAs an 18-year-old from a tight-knit family in the Bahamas, I didnӰԭt know what I was getting into when I left home and my home country to attend college,Ӱԭ she explains. ӰԭWhen I started college, I didnӰԭt know what credits were. From that 18-year-old to becoming a professor, itӰԭs eye-opening how far IӰԭve come.Ӱԭ

Sofia Martinez Ӱԭ22 and Saige Batza Ӱԭ25.
Sofia Martinez Ӱԭ22 (left) and Saige Batza Ӱԭ25.
ӰԭItӰԭs nice to feel supportedӰԭ

FlanaganӰԭs story also stuck with Elizabeth Hall Ӱԭ24, a psychology major. She says his inspirational message Ӱԭ and the event itself Ӱԭ enabled her to feel supported and heard.

ӰԭI think it was very meaningful, and I appreciate the story he told,Ӱԭ she said. ӰԭI related to it when he discussed not wanting to disappoint his family and not always knowing what to do. My mom was also proud when I went to college, and I didnӰԭt want to disappoint her or myself, but sometimes it is overwhelming.Ӱԭ

Hall is endeavoring to foster more connections between first-generation students. She is serving as vice president for a new organization that offers support and community for first-generation students.

Isabelle Hajek Ӱԭ22, a first-generation student and a psychology major, is doing her part to help support fellow first-generation students. A resident assistant, she is passionate about making sure those following in her footsteps feel connected to the University community and that they avail themselves of all the resources and support it has to offer.

ӰԭThereӰԭs a big learning curve for first-generation students, and it can be overwhelming,Ӱԭ she said. ӰԭAs a resident assistant, I look forward to connecting students with this new organization. ItӰԭs an important step in the right direction for first-generation students, and itӰԭs nice to feel supported.Ӱԭ