In Their Own Words: CALS First-Generation Faculty and Staff

Name: Garey Fox 

Department: Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in a small town called Godley, Texas, with my parents and four brothers. I was the valedictorian of my high school class, but it was only 35 students.

When did you know you wanted to attend college?

I think it was really probably cemented when I got into high school. I had really great teachers. I had an English teacher and a couple of math teachers that were just great, and my FFA teacher, who was like, ‘You need to really think about going to college and there’s opportunities for you to go to college.’ And my mom was really pushing me because she thought I’d make a really good teacher.

What got you interested in your field of study?

When I joined the student chapter of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers as an undergraduate student at Texas A&M, it helped me get connected with a group of like-minded students. And what ended up happening is when I went into my sophomore year, the faculty advisor for that group pulled me aside and was like, ‘Hey, I’ve heard you’ve got good grades. You’re doing well in college. Do you want to think about doing undergraduate research?’

I think a lot of times as a first-generation student, you don’t know what the opportunities are. I had never been exposed to the idea of doing research. My goal was to go to school, go through my classes, graduate and go get a job in industry. But the next thing I knew, here’s a faculty member who’s an adviser of this student club that pulls me aside and I start doing undergraduate research with him. He is still my mentor today, and it’s one of the reasons that I’m on the pathway that I am and that I’m dean today.

Were there any obstacles to attending college? If so, how did you overcome them?

I think one of the big obstacles for me was just the unknown, really not knowing how does this work? How do dorm rooms work or classes work? How do you do all this? You kind of just have to live the process as it occurs without knowing and not having anybody that can tell you, ‘Oh, this is what’s going to happen first and this is what’s going to happen second.’

I think another big obstacle was financial. There was no way my parents were going to really be able to help support me going to college. They would do everything they possibly could do, but I had a wonderful opportunity through FFA and by applying for a number of other scholarships that really helped lessen any of the financial burden that was there. And then I think the third obstacle for me as a first-generation college student was the distance of being away from home. Being three hours away from home was a big deal. Being away from my support network, the people that I had known for all my life, was really hard. That distance was always a little bit of an obstacle that I had to overcome.

What particular moment or memory about being a first-generation student stands out to you?

I remember going into college, I took a pre chemistry placement test and I almost placed out of the first semester of chemistry because I had just had chemistry in high school. My adviser suggested I skip the first semester of chemistry and go into the second semester of chemistry. And I remember going into that second semester of chemistry and being like, even from the first day of class, like, no, I need to go back to first semester chemistry and pick up some more background information before I take second semester chemistry.

I remember not knowing how to do that and also not knowing whether that was even allowed. I had all of these questions because I didn’t really know what was possible and what wasn’t possible.

Name: Kim Allen

Department: Interim associate dean and director of Academic Programs

Tell us about yourself. 

I’m from a rural small town in southwest Missouri. I was the first person in my family to go to college (and only the second to finish high school). I now live with my husband and two adorable dogs as well as one of my kiddos.

What got you interested in your field of study?

My passion has always been helping young people succeed and I REALLY loved school, so I never really left! I love that I get to help our students.

When did you know you wanted to attend college?

I think I always knew; I loved school and found a community there. I also wanted to live in a city, and knew I’d need an education to achieve my goals.

Were there any obstacles to attending college? If so, how did you overcome them?

Yes. My parents didn’t want me to go to college. They were worried I would leave our small community (which I did). It was a challenge to leave them and be the first to do so many things in my family. However, the schools I attended were amazing and I found a community right away and it made all of the difference to me.

What particular moment or memory about being a first-generation student stands out to you?

My student loans. I didn’t have money to pay for college and my parents didn’t have money either, so I didn’t really know how to pay for school. I paid it all with loans, and left with an enormous amount of debt. I wish I had had more guidance with finances as I figured out school finances. I think navigating those systems can be really hard for first-generation students.

Name: David Andow

Department: Head of the Department of Applied Ecology

Tell us about yourself. 

I am a nikkei-sansei and grew up in Mentor, Ohio. My parents and grandparents were incarcerated during World War II. My parents always supported education and all of my siblings completed college. I have just moved to Raleigh three months ago and have two adorable chihuahuas.

What got you interested in your field of study?

I was always interested in the outdoors while growing up. However, my professional path was long and winding, and took detours to engineering, mathematics and chemistry. Even after going into biology, the path continued to wind around different fields of biology.

When did you know you wanted to attend college?

I do not remember when I did not plan to attend college. It was part of my upbringing.

Were there any obstacles to attending college? If so, how did you overcome them?

The main barrier was the expense. I worked about 20 hours per week throughout college and my parents sacrificed tremendously.

What particular moment or memory about being a first-generation student stands out to you?

I never heard of a first-generation student until I arrived in college. At that time, I felt that the concept had a pejorative meaning and it was not a part of my identity. I had racial, cultural and class barriers that were far more pernicious and took years for me to understand.

Name: Joshua Bledsoe

Department: State agricultural education leader and state FFA advisor for the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences

Tell us about yourself. 

I’m from Dobson, North Carolina. I was in agricultural education/FFA and served as an NC FFA State Officer. I taught high school agriculture in Columbus County and have served on state and national Ag Ed/FFA staff since 2001. My wife and I live in Holly Springs.

What got you interested in your field of study?

My high school agriculture teacher, Mr. Donald Vestal, was the first big influence in my career. The Institute for Future Agriculture Leaders here at NCSU really confirmed that I wanted to major in agricultural education.

When did you know you wanted to attend college?

In June of 1988— when I participated in the NC FFA State Tool ID Contest held in Weaver Labs on the NCSU campus.

Were there any obstacles to attending college? If so, how did you overcome them?

Yes—making the grades to get in! I studied hard and did my best in school. And I didn’t have the money to get to NCSU until I earned an NC Teaching Fellows Scholarship that paid my entire way to NCSU.

What particular moment or memory about being a first-generation student stands out to you?

My parents’ reaction to my acceptance letter into NCSU. It was a happy day! I went on to earn my bachelor’s in agricultural and extension education in 1995 and my master’s in agricultural and extension education in 2005.

Name: Linda Hanley-Bowdoin

Department: William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

Tell us about yourself. 

I grew up in a military family and moved around the U.S. (Montana, Alabama, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, & California) and abroad (Germany, Turkey and Spain) with my father’s different assignments. We moved to Riverside, California, when I was 16, where I finished high school and completed my B.A. in biochemistry at the UC-Riverside. I spent my junior year abroad in Scotland where I met my husband. Given my background, it’s not surprising that I love traveling and have visited five continents, 30 countries and 36 states. I am also an avid sewer (more than 60 years of experience) and make quilts to give away to family, friends and coworkers.

What got you interested in your field of study?

My father trained as a medic and became a medical technologist in the Air Force. I remember visiting the hospital lab as a child and was fascinated by a spinning centrifuge and looking through a microscope. I started out my career planning to become a physician, but decided research was a better choice. I worked as a technician at Harvard and Hopkins medical Sschools and then returned to grad school to pursue biomedical research. However, I discovered plants at the University of Toronto as a graduate student and have never wavered from plant systems since then.

When did you know you wanted to attend college?

My first grade teacher asked everyone in the class what they were going to do when they grew up. My answer was to go to college.

Were there any obstacles to attending college? If so, how did you overcome them?

As the first college graduate in my family on both sides, there was no one who could guide me through the process. My choice of UCR for my B.A. was based on living at home to save money. It was only when I went to grad school that I made decisions based on academic interest and institutional reputation. However, I was very lucky because my undergraduate degree was an excellent preparation for my next steps.

What particular moment or memory about being a first-generation student stands out to you?

I most remember freshman orientation at UCR, when I got to spend two nights in the dorms with other incoming students. Even though I was not able to live on campus, I have lifetime friends from that weekend.

Name: Barbara A. Fair

Department: Associate professor in the Department of Horticultural Science

Tell us about yourself. 

I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I enjoy gardening, canoeing and hiking.

What got you interested in your field of study?

Studying forestry as an undergraduate and working in the field before going back to college for advanced degrees.

When did you know you wanted to attend college?

From the time I was in junior high school.

Were there any obstacles to attending college? If so, how did you overcome them?

Money: I worked before and during the time I was obtaining my degrees.

What particular moment or memory about being a first-generation student stands out to you?

My mother was very intelligent but her life was pretty difficult growing up, and she only made it to the ninth grade. Then she left school to marry my dad. She later got her high school equivalency diploma.

Name: Jessie Cline Fouts

Department: Business service coordinator in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Tell us about yourself. 

I’m a first-generation college student and a third generation beekeeper. I grew up in Cleveland, North Carolina, a small rural farm community north of Charlotte about 45 minutes. I have a chocolate lab named Daisy who is a huge Wolfpack fan. I just recently got married last month and moved to Eastern North Carolina. I love to surf, travel and go to the beach.

What got you interested in your field of study?

In high school when I started my small beekeeping business with my family I wasn’t sure if I wanted to expand that or work and continue to grow my business. FFA was something that helped build my confidence in agriculture and that only grew with being a small business owner in the industry.

When did you know you wanted to attend college?

Since I was very young I knew I wanted to go, but I wasn’t sure of where or what I wanted to study. My freshman year of high school when I joined FFA and began my beekeeping journey was when I knew I wanted to study agriculture and it had to be at NC State.

Were there any obstacles to attending college? If so, how did you overcome them?

Yes, I applied to NC State my senior year and was deferred. However, I knew this was the place I belonged and where I wanted to be so I decided with Covid happening and graduating high school in a pandemic to stay home and finish my associate’s degree online and build my resume up and try again as a transfer student. A year later, I was accepted and it was by far the best choice I ever made. Coming from a small town (population of about 1,000), the first week here I was very overwhelmed but grew fond of the people and culture quickly.

What particular moment or memory about being a first-generation student stands out to you?

I just graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management and minors in entomology, agricultural entrepreneurship and economics. It was so rewarding when I walked across the stage at my graduation, the feeling of being able to look at my family in the crowd and how much their support through all the obstacles I faced is unforgettable.

I was so fortunate to have a very supportive family that I leaned on every step of the way. I hope to help and inspire other first-generation college students to not give up: You are capable of more than you think.

Name: Katie Sanders

Department: Assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences

Tell us about yourself. 

I am from Maumelle, Arkansas, a small suburb outside of the state’s capital. Known as the natural state, Arkansas is a hidden gem in the south, with lots of natural resources and areas to explore! After I graduated from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, I completed my master’s at the University of Arkansas, and then moved to Athens, Georgia, to complete my Ph.D. My spouse, Jake, is also from Arkansas and an avid Razorback fan!

What got you interested in your field of study?

I originally thought I was going to be a plant geneticist, but realized after a research internship that I was more interested in the people who work with plants than the plants themselves! I changed my major in my senior year of college to focus more on social sciences related to food and natural resources. I was always interested in sustainability and the natural environment, but had a love of food and food systems that led me on the path to agriculture. Because of my background studying the natural sciences, I decided to pursue a graduate career focused on extension because of the opportunity to translate research and science to communities.

When did you know you wanted to attend college?

I grew up with my parents encouraging me to attend college for as long as I can remember. While they didn’t attend college themselves, there was never a question in my house that higher education was the path for me.

Were there any obstacles to attending college? If so, how did you overcome them?

Navigating the financial aspect—my parents were extremely supportive in the navigation of the financial system, but I honestly felt so lost on what all I needed to do to secure my financial future. I felt very under prepared (both before attending college and after) to properly understand student debt processes and what that would mean for my post-graduate future.

What particular moment or memory about being a first-generation student stands out to you?

My parents decorating both of their vehicles with decals from my undergraduate institution—they were extremely proud and would tell everyone they met where and what I was studying. My mother always attended college visits with me and was very supportive of the process.

Name: Fernanda Santos

Department: Assistant professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences

Tell us about yourself. 

I am from Brazil and completed my veterinary medicine degree there before moving to the U.S. My husband is also a vet and also received his Ph.D. from NC State. I received my doctorate from NC State in poultry and animal sciences. We have two children, my daughter graduated from NC State in May 2023 and will start her master’s at FBNS in 2024 and my son is at UNC as a biology major and plans to go to medical school. I have seven dogs, all yorkies!

What got you interested in your field of study?

I wanted to make my parents proud. In addition, I always loved animals and wanted to help people, but I didn’t want to go to medical school. So, being a veterinarian and working with diseases that were transmitted to humans by animals made the most sense to me.

When did you know you wanted to attend college?

Since I was in fifth grade. My teacher took us to visit a vaccine lab coordinated by the Brazilian Army and where they showed us several machines they used to make vaccines and they also showed us how they produced anti-venom for snake bites. So, we saw the snakes and the horses. I was so impressed with what I saw, and it made me want to go to vet school to work with horses!

Were there any obstacles to attending college? If so, how did you overcome them?

Yes, in Brazil the standardized tests were very difficult and many people would not pass the first time. They usually had to pay private tutors or private schools to prepare for the test. My parents didn’t have the means to pay for that, so I had to make sure I passed the first time I tried, and I did.

What particular moment or memory about being a first-generation student stands out to you?

The support and pride of my family, especially my parents. Even though they were never rich, they always provided for me and my siblings and made sure we had a good education.

Name: Sebastian Wolfrum

Department: Lecturer in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences

Tell us about yourself. 

Growing up in a small town in Germany, I should have been a fourth generation dental equipment sales person. This has been a long tradition in my family.

What got you interested in your field of study?

Water and its scarcity, which brings with it challenges to communities and society.

When did you know you wanted to attend college?

When I got out of brewing school.

Were there any obstacles to attending college? If so, how did you overcome them?

Money and skills to learn: Money was easier by working, but the skills and work techniques of reading books and writing is an ongoing process of learning and improvement for me.

What particular moment or memory about being a first-generation student stands out to you?

No one really celebrated my graduation, which was good as it took the pressure off to succeed finding a career, but it made it less clear how much that accomplishment meant to me and my family.