30 seconds with an alum: Building belonging as a first-generation student 

Alumna Jennifer Maglalang, American Studies ‘99, navigated the world of education with determination, perseverance, and curiosity. Raised in a small village in Alaska, she was limited to the opportunities available within the company-owned property she grew up on. Her experiences as a first-generation college student led her to a career in social work and higher education. Today, she serves as the current Director of Admissions at UW’s School of Social Work in Seattle.

Hometown: King Cove, Alaska

What can you remember about being a first-generation student?

I had two professors (Jennifer Schultz and David S. Goldstein) who I took several classes with consistently because it was a small community back then. They took an interest in me and really fostered and developed my skills. They were such great encouragers and cheerleaders saying, “You do awesome work!”

Coming from an environment where I didn’t necessarily have that kind of support, I still try to do similar things for other people. I’ve had that modeled for me, so I want to give back whenever I can.

Is there a key memory from your time at UW Bothell that is meaningful?

I loved the small community. I got to know folks really well, particularly my professors. I remember going to my graduation ceremony, and those two professors came up in their robes and floppy hats and said, “Oh my gosh, you got magna cum laude!” They were so happy for me, and they were just so excited.

I think that’s a good representation of how I felt overall. I just always felt like someone was paying attention to me and recognizing the work that I had done.

How has being a first-generation student impacted your career?

There are so many things I think I learned from being a first-gen student in terms of having perseverance and resourcefulness and asking for help — finding people who want to be in your corner for support and really leaning into that.

It’s such a core part of my identity. It’s a motivator — a catalyst for lots of things like creative problem-solving, thinking outside of the box and being curious about the folks who are not at the table. That’s where I center my lens and experience: on those who are at the margins or the most underrepresented, particularly in traditional systems of higher education.