Assistant Professor, Department of History
Education as Social Mobility
I come from a working-class family. My dad is a motorcycle mechanic, and my mom is a social worker. Along with my grandmother, they always pushed education as an avenue for economic and social mobility. After serving in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, I enrolled in a local community college. I initially started as a business major, then switched to philosophy, before finding my real interest and future was in history.
Challenges of Returning to School
As a non-traditional student, there were challenges with restarting school after several years off. In general, my math skills had deteriorated, and connecting with younger students who had very different life experiences was a challenge. But, in time, I found a niche that allowed me to grow in directions that I had never thought possible. Looking back, would I do anything differently? I would really focus on taking advantage of unique opportunities that presented themselves either at the university or in the community. Sometimes it's easy to get lost in our own little world and miss the trees that we're passing as we drive through the forest.
Advice to First-Gen Students
Serving in the military before starting college, I had developed strong time management skills. One of the most important things for students to learn is how to compartmentalize their time. No matter how much we may want more time, there are only 168 hours in a week. Figuring out how to break up our days to include study, work, rest, and--of course--fun is essential for sustaining our physical and mental health.”