In partnership with TRIO and First Generation College Celebration (FGCC) we are hosting a School of Public Policy First Generation Panel & Pizza. FGCC is an annual opportunity to raise awareness of the first-generation college student identity by advancing an asset-based, national narrative of these students’ experiences and outcomes.
RSVP is encouraged but not required. The panel will focus on the experiences of first generation undergraduates, graduates and staff and tips on how to thrive as a first generation student, but the event is open to all students.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
Denise Burroughs
Denise Burroughs is a second-year MPP student and proud double Terp. They graduated from the University of Maryland in 2022 with a B.A. in Communication and Public Relations. Denise pursued an MPP with her sights set on a public affairs role that advocates for the bodily autonomy and collective liberation of all marginalized communities, particularly queer youth with intersecting identities. Post-grad, they aspire to work for a nonprofit as a communication and policy specialist with a focus on institutionalizing intersectional, comprehensive sexual health education. Outside of school, Denise loves hiking, houseplants, folk music and jigsaw puzzles.
Tyrese Fenty
As program coordinator, Tyrese Fenty plays a critical role in the creation and development of new experiential and educational student programs that develop, inspire and equip individuals and teams for positive social impact.
Prior to the Do Good Institute Fenty worked at the University of Maryland in the Leadership and Community Service Learning office as the graduate coordinator for Terps for Change, helping to connect students to community service in the local DMV area with local nonprofits. He also was the graduate assistant for the Student Success Initiative helping to manage student-led programs at the University of Maryland that empower the Black student population academically, financially and professionally. Amongst these roles, he was able to be an instructor and advisor to students during his graduate career in his spare time. Fenty has recently graduated from the University of Maryland with his Master of Education in Student Affairs, Higher Education, and International Education Policy. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Africana Studies from the University of Connecticut.
Dr. Ricco Hall
Dr. Ricco Hall's professional experience covers the areas of education, psychology, human behavior, program management, health and human services and criminal justice. He began his career providing counseling and intervention services in an adult state mental health institution as a psychiatric technician while completing his undergraduate degree. Shortly after receiving his undergraduate degree he took on the duties of outpatient counseling and case management services for the adult mentally ill population as a case manager. He quickly observed that there were children involved in the lives of most of his adult clients and became interested in the needs of children as well. Enthused by his insight, he began performing crisis intervention services for youth in at-risk communities on inpatient and outpatient terms. To serve the adult and youth populations in at-risk, low-socioeconomic, and disadvantaged communities, he has worked on the local, state, and federal levels in government and non-profit sectors.
His professional development began in wrap-around counseling and case management for youth and adult populations. As the site director/lead teacher, he managed a 21st Century Community Learning Center afterschool program, serving Pre-K to 8th grade students in downtown D.C. He was a program specialist for the Department of Health and Human Services, Mentoring Children of Prisoners Program. He is a program manager for the Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and an adjunct professor for the University of Maryland, School of Public Policy and African American Studies Department in the Behavioral and Social Sciences College.
He holds a doctoral degree in Human and Organizational Learning from The George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development. His dissertation study is "Amongst but not Connected: Social Networking Experiences of First-Generation Professional (FGP) Black Males in the Federal Government. He received his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Education Specialist and Master of Education degrees in education from Tennessee Technological University, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Through his educational development, he has earned membership in the Phi Lambda Theta Honor Society and Golden Key International Honour Society.
Zach McKenelley
My name is Zach McKenelley, and I am currently a third-year student studying economics and public policy. I was born and raised in a small town on the north shore of Boston, MA. This past summer I had the privilege of interning at the Royal Bank of Canada as an institutional asset management intern in Boston. During my internship I had the opportunity to volunteer through the company at the Save a Dog Foundation. We spent time with the dogs in a shelter and helped raise money for more food and clean water. I enjoy spending my free time on the golf course or near a lake. Golf is my main hobby. I try to play as often as I can. I am also a proud first-generation college student.