What impact do you hope to have on higher education policy?
The impact I hope to leave in higher education policy is one where students know that their voices matter and that they belong in the rooms where decisions about their education are being made. As a first-generation student, I understand how difficult it can be to navigate systems, policies, resources, and responsibilities when you do not always know where to turn for answers. I want to help create a higher education environment where students have a seat at the table and meaningful opportunities to share their experiences, perspectives, and ideas.
Students are not just affected by higher education policy, we are living it. The people making decisions may understand institutions and systems, but students understand what it is like to navigate those systems while balancing school, work, family, finances, and life. I want students to be able to say, “Someone listened to me, my voice was heard, and my ideas helped shape what happened next.” I hope my work through this fellowship helps make higher education more accessible, more responsive, and easier to navigate, while creating more opportunities for students to see themselves as leaders and change makers in policy.
What’s one thing people should know about higher education in Michigan?
One thing I wish people understood about pursuing higher education in Michigan is that access does not end when a student gets accepted into college. For many students, especially first-generation students, figuring out how to actually navigate higher education can be just as challenging as getting there. Understanding policies, finding resources, accessing mental health support, balancing work and school, and simply knowing who to ask for help can feel overwhelming when you do not have someone who has already walked that path.
Too often, students are expected to find resources when they are already struggling or in crisis. I believe students should not have to reach that point before they are informed, supported, and connected to help. Students deserve to know what resources exist, how to access them, and where they can go with questions before they are in a moment of crisis. Higher education in Michigan should not just be about getting students through the door. It should be about creating the knowledge, support, and spaces that allow students to thrive once they are there. Most importantly, I want students to know that they have a voice in shaping higher education and that they have the power to use that voice to influence policy, create change, and build opportunities for the students who come after them.
