First Generation
First Generation Careers (FGC)
As the first in your family to attend a four-year college or university, you face unique considerations as you engage in the career development process. In collaboration with first gen student leaders, the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development established the First Generation Careers (FGC) to support first gen students' career development. The FGC provides first gen students opportunities to discover and explore career paths while building community and pride in being first gen.
FGC programming and events:
- First Gen, First Look at the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development
- Backstage Pass to the Fall Career Fair
- Backstage Pass to the Spring Semester Career Fair
- First Gen Networking Night
- Backstage Pass to Consulting Week
- Backstage Pass to the Wall Street Forum
Find out more information about these events in your Handshake account under Events.
First Gen Careers Advisory Board - seeking to support career development efforts for fellow first gen students
2021-2022 Board Officers:
Member: Abigail Abikoye
Year and Class: Junior, Class of 2022
Major: Biological Sciences, Poverty Studies and Anthropology minors
Hometown: Bowie, MD
Extracurricular activities
- First Generation Careers (FGC), Advisory Board Member
- Managing Editor for COS Student Run Publication: Scientia
- Co-Vice President of Biology Club
- Teaching Assistant for Intro Biology
- Biology & ES Senior Leadership Committee
- Fighting Irish Scholar and QuestBridge Scholar
Internship experience
- Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty, Intern (Summer 2020)
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Pediatric Heart Lung Center, Research Intern (Summer 2019)
- National Institutes of Health, Research Intern (Summer 2018)
Co-Chair: Brian Feury
Year and Class: Junior, Class of 2022
Major: Finance, Theology minor
Hometown: Verona, NJ
Extracurricular activities
- First Generation Careers (FGC), Advisory Board Member
- Student International Business Council (SIBC)
- Zahm House Eucharistic Minister
- Wall Steet Club, Notre Dame Institute for Global Investing (NDIGI)
Internship experience
- Morgan Stanley Investment Banking Summer Analyst (Summer 2020)
- Konica Minolta Data Analytics Intern (Summer 2019)
Co-Chair: Violeta Hernandez Padilla
Year and Class: Junior, Class of 2022
Major: Economics, Accounting and Computing & Digital Technologies minors
Hometown: Douglasville, GA
Extracurricular activities
- First Generation Careers (FGC), Advisory Board Member
- kiND Club, Secretary
- Unleashed Social Ventures, Travel Team Member
- Student-Athlete tutor: Spanish, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics
Internship experience
- MetLife (Summer 2020)
- Red Ventures (Summer 2019)
- Alliance for Fair Food (Spring 2017)
Other experiences
- President's Circle Mentor Program (Summer 2020)
Member: Silvana Portillo
Year and Class: Junior, Class of 2022
Major: Political Science, Digital Marketing minor
Hometown: Columbia, SC
Extracurricular activities
- First Generation Careers (FGC), Advisory Board Member
- Fighting Irish Media, Student Employee
- Department of Sustainability, Member
- Walsh Hall Service Committee
Member: Miguel Coste
Year and Class: Sophomore, Class of 2023
Major: Neuroscience and Behavior, Education, Schooling, and Society minor
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Extracurricular activities
- First Generation Careers (FGC), Advisory Board Member
- 1stG ND, President
- QuestBridge Chapter of Notre Dame, Head Mentor
First Generation Resources at Notre Dame:
Additional Career Resources:
Diversity and Inclusion Showcase Book
Academic Resources:
Wellness Resources:
