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
2022-2023 Board Officers:
President: Miguel Coste
Major: Neuroscience and Behavior
Year and Class: Senior, Class of 2023
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Extracurricular activities
- First Generation Careers (FGC), Advisory Board, President
- AnBryce Scholar
- QuestBridge Scholar
- Building Bridges Scholar
- MSPS Scholar
- 1stG ND, President (May 2020 - December 2021)
- Notre Dame Cheer Team (August 2021 - May 2022)
Internship experience
- Cavanaugh Council and President’s Circle Intern
- University Relations Internship
- MIT Summer Research Program in Biology (MSRP-BIO), Research Assistant
- Undergraduate Research Assistant, Sociology
Board Member: Dominick Blanco
Major: Computer Science, Latino Studies Minor
Year and Class: Junior, Class of 2024
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Extracurricular activities
- First Generation Careers (FGC), Advisory Board, Chief of Staff
- National Society of Black Engineers
- Latinx Student Alliance (LSA)
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
- The Wabruda
- Galvin Scholars
Internship experience
- SWE at Ford Motor Company (Summer 2022)
- VentureOne, Webmaster (Summer 2021)
- Galvin Scholars ASCEND Program (Summer 2021)
Board Member: Sophonie Alcindor
Major: Economics, Data Science minor, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) minor
Year and Class: Junior, Class of 2024
Hometown: Lynn, MA
Extracurricular activities
- First Generation Careers (FGC), Advisory Board, VP of Public Relations
- Judicial Council, Vice President of Peer Advocacy
- Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Notre Dame-IBM Technology Ethics Lab
- Teaching Assistant for Writing and Rhetoric Tutorial
- Writing Center Tutor
- Balfour-Hesburgh Scholar and Fighting Irish Scholar
Internship experience
- Research Access and Mentoring Program (RAMP), Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts (Summer 2022)
- Summer Service Learning Program (SSLP) at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester (Summer 2021)
Board Member: Alan Ricardo Ávalos
Major: Neuroscience & Behavior, Latino Studies
Year and Class: Junior, Class of 2024
Hometown: Bloomingdale, IL
Extracurricular activities
- First Generation Careers (FGC), Advisory Board, VP of Membership
- Latinx Student Alliance (LSA), Vice-President
- Mariachi ND, Vocalist
- Junior Hall Council
Internship experience
- Colorado Undergraduate Summer Program (CUSP)
Other experiences
- Notre Dame SSLP Summer Experience at Camp Thunderhead
Board Member: Logan Balfantz
Major: Management Consulting
Year and Class: Junior, Class of 2024
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Extracurricular activities
- First Generation Careers (FGC), Advisory Board, VP of Employer and Alumni Relations
Internship experience
- Procter and Gamble, Brand Management (Summer 2023)
Other information
- Dream Career: Professor of Management
Board Member: Chanelly Diaz
Major: Science-Business, Hesburgh Program Minor
Year and Class: Sophomore, Class of 2025
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Extracurricular activities
- First Generation Careers (FGC), Advisory Board, VP of Campus Relations
- STACK Lab - Harper Hall, Indiana University South Bend
- Volunteer/Interpreter, Sister Maura Brannick Clinic
- Inclusivity Chair - Howard Hall Executive Board
Internship experience
- Summer Service Learning Program (SSLP) (Crossover Health Ministry, Richmond, VA)
Board Member: Mark Metryoos
Major: Finance
Year and Class: Sophomore, Class of 2025
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Extracurricular activities
- First Generation Careers (FGC), Advisory Board, VP of Campus Relations
- Questbridge Scholar
- Balfour-Hesburgh Scholar
- Fighting Irish Scholar
- Mary E. Galvin Science and Engineering Scholar
- 1stG ND
- BBAND
- FLC
- Greenwood Project/ Readystate Asset Management
Board Member: Isaiah Scarlett
Major: Management Consulting, Innovation and Entrepreneurship minor
Year and Class: Junior, Class of 2024
Hometown: Albany, NY
Extracurricular activities
- First Generation Careers (FGC), Advisory Board, VP of Employer and Alumni Relations
- Co-Editor-in-Chief of Strike Magazine Notre Dame
- Unleashed Social Ventures
- Investment Club
- Real Estate Club of Notre Dame
- Notre Dame Student Media, Student Employee
Internship experience
- JP Morgan Asset & Wealth Management Fellow (Summer 2022)
First Generation Resources at Notre Dame:
Additional Career Resources:
Diversity and Inclusion Showcase Book
Academic Resources:
Wellness Resources:
