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First-Generation Alumni Network @ FSU

@fsu.firstgenalumni

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Welcome to the official home of the FSU First-Gen Alumni Network!
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We’re soooo back… and we’re just getting started. 👀❤️💛 The First-Generation Alumni Network at Florida State University is officially here! Whether you graduated last year or decades ago, this network was created to keep first-generation Seminoles connected long after crossing the stage. Together, we’ll celebrate our journeys, strengthen our alumni community, and continue creating opportunities for future first-gen students. Here’s how you can get involved: ✨ Join one of our committees ✨ Attend virtual and in-person events ✨ Connect and network with fellow first-gen alumni ✨ Support and mentor current first-generation students ✨ Volunteer and give back through meaningful initiatives ✨ Stay connected to the Seminole community all year long This is more than a network, it’s a lifelong community built on resilience, connection, and giving back. Whether you’re looking to make new connections, reconnect with old friends, or find new ways to serve, there’s a place for you here. Follow along, invite a fellow first-gen Seminole, and stay tuned for upcoming opportunities, events, and ways to get involved. Tag a Seminole & Welcome home. ❤️💛 As always, Go Noles! 🍢 #floridastateuniversity #firstgenerationcollegestudent #fsufootball #fsunoles #fsualumni by @fsu.firstgenalumni
What if your move forward isn’t a setback? ❤️💛 The Art of the Pivot reminded us that our journeys don’t have to be linear to be meaningful. Sometimes the pivot is the progress. Thank you to our incredible panelists for sharing your stories, experiences, and lessons with our First-Gen community and thank you to everyone who joined us, asked questions, and leaned into the conversation. We hope you walked away encouraged to embrace the unexpected turns, trust your journey, and keep moving forward. ✨ If you attended, we want to hear from you! ⬇️ Drop one thing you learned, a piece of advice that stayed with you, or your biggest takeaway from The Art of the Pivot in the comments. Your takeaway might be exactly what any Seminole needs to hear. 🎓❤️💛 by @fsu.firstgenalumni
TOMORROW, we’re talking about navigating change, embracing what’s next, and recognizing that sometimes your next move isn’t a step back it’s a pivot forward. There’s still time to join us! ✨ Tag a fellow Seminole or someone who may need this conversation. 🔗 RSVP today! Registration link in bio! by @fsu.firstgenalumni
The Art of the Pivot is almost here! 🎓✨ We’re excited to bring together an incredible group of professionals for a conversation centered on navigating change, embracing new opportunities, and making your next move with purpose. 👀 Check out our panelists! They’ll be sharing their experiences, perspectives, and lessons learned while navigating their own pivots. 📅 September 17, 2026 💻 Virtual Webinar 🎙️ Alumni Conversations: The Art of the Pivot Whether you’re considering a career change, stepping into a new season, or simply figuring out what’s next — this conversation is for you. Have you registered yet? 👀 We’re counting down and can’t wait to see you there! by @fsu.firstgenalumni
✨ SAVE THE DATE, First-Gen Seminoles! ❤️💛 What if your next move isn’t a step back, but a pivot forward? ✨ Join the FSU First-Gen Alumni Network for The Art of the Pivot, a virtual conversation about navigating change, exploring new directions, and figuring out what comes next. 📅 Thursday, September 17th ⏰ 6:30 PM 💻 Virtual via Zoom 🔗 Registration link in bio Whether you’re considering a career change, entering a new season, or simply trying to figure out your next move, this conversation is for you. Our panel will bring together professionals who have pivoted into nonprofit, business, and tech to share real experiences and practical advice for navigating career changes in today’s economy and the growing world of AI. FSU FGen Alums you don’t want to miss. Register through the link in bio and send this to a friend who should be in the room! #fsufirstgen #fsuseminoles #fsualumni #pivoting #firstgeneration by @fsu.firstgenalumni
Calling all First-Gen Seminoles! 🎓❤️💛 Your FSU class year holds so many memories; late-night study sessions, campus traditions, lifelong friendships, and the moment you finally crossed that stage. Now we want to hear from you! What year did you graduate from Florida State? Drop your class year below, then tag a First-Gen Nole who helped make your FSU journey unforgettable. ⬇️🍢 #firstgeneration #fsualumni firstgenalumni gonoles by @fsu.firstgenalumni
✨ Meet Our Communications Committee Lead: Erykah Tharpe We’re excited to introduce Erykah Tharpe, our Communications Committee Lead for the FSU First-Generation Alumni Network Council! 💼 About Erykah Erykah Tharpe is a storyteller and communications professional with a passion for connecting people and building community. Her background spans marketing, education leadership, social media strategy, nonprofit engagement, and mental health advocacy. As an entrepreneur, blogger, and K–12 leader, she enjoys using creativity and purposeful communication to amplify voices and make a meaningful impact. 🎓 Favorite FSU Memory One of my favorite FSU memories is reminiscing about all the good old days—from getting involved in so many student organizations that helped me discover my passions (and what wasn’t for me!) to preparing for graduation, only to celebrate earning my degree from the couch in my pajamas because of COVID-19. Every experience shaped who I am and made my FSU journey unforgettable. 💛 Why I Joined the Council As Communications Committee Lead, I see an incredible opportunity to celebrate first-generation experiences, strengthen alumni engagement, and create meaningful opportunities for students and graduates to connect with one another. Through storytelling, marketing, and community engagement, I hope to help every first-generation Seminole feel seen, celebrated, and supported long after graduation. ➡️ Swipe to read Erykah’s message to every first-generation Seminole. ☕ P.S. If you ever see Erykah, she’ll happily accept an iced matcha latte with oat milk and either strawberry or ube cold foam. 🍓🍵💜 Help us welcome Erykah in the comments! ❤️💛 by @fsu.firstgenalumni
✨ Meet Our Mentoring Committee Co-Lead: Kiswood Diogene We’re excited to introduce Kiswood Diogene, our Mentoring Committee Co-Lead for the FSU First-Generation Alumni Network Council! 💼 About Kiswood Kiswood is a Solutions Engineer at Alloy, where he helps financial services clients combat fraud and identity risk. With more than six years of experience in fintech, he also holds an MBA and is currently pursuing his M.S. at Brown University. Beyond his career, he’s passionate about mentorship, serves as a mentor with the T. Howard Foundation, and is actively involved in organizations that support professional growth and community impact. 🎓 Favorite FSU Memory Honestly, just living five minutes away from everyone I talked to on the daily and how easy it was for us to do things, take trips, and make plans. 💛 Why I Joined the Council I think mentoring is a term that gets tossed around, but there is a gap between people trying to find mentors and people who are willing to be them. I think the Council will allow me to think of ways to close that gap. The Council will allow me to bring people together to form relationships that actually drive improvements. ➡️ Swipe to read Kiswood’s message to every first-generation Seminole. ☕ P.S. If you ever see Kiswood, his go-to order is either an iced latte with 2% milk or an iced matcha with oat milk and sugar-free vanilla. Help us welcome Kiswood in the comments! ❤️💛 by @fsu.firstgenalumni
✨ Meet Our Mentoring Committee Co-Lead: Alexandra Cosso We’re excited to introduce Alexandra, our Mentoring Committee Co-Lead for the FSU First-Generation Alumni Network Council! 💼 About Alexandra Alexandra is a data analytics and insights leader with expertise in public health and disaster response. She manages analytics infrastructure using R, SQL, and Tableau, leads cross-functional teams, and delivers insights that drive policy, transparency, and operational efficiency. Outside of work, she’s deeply committed to mentorship, volunteering with Columbia University’s RISE/MOSAIC program, Florida State University’s MentorFSU, and the Hispanic/Latino Alumni Association mentorship programs to support students pursuing careers in public health and data science. 🎓 Favorite FSU Memory Some of my favorite memories from Florida State are the friendships I built there. Ten years later, many of those friends are still part of my life, and those relationships are a big part of what made my time at FSU so meaningful. 💛 Why I Joined the Council I joined the Council because I know from experience how much a single honest conversation can shift the way a first generation student sees their options. As a first generation FSU alumna who has spent years mentoring students and young professionals, I want to help build spaces where first gen Seminoles can find real, practical support that fits their actual lives, not some idealized version of college. ➡️ See Alexandra’s message to every first-generation Seminole. ☕ P.S. If you ever see Alix, treat her to a caramel macchiato with oat milk—it’s her go-to order! Help us welcome Alexandra in the comments! ❤️💛 by @fsu.firstgenalumni
✨ Meet Our Programming Committee Lead: Dr. Serena Bradshaw We’re excited to introduce Dr. Serena Bradshaw, our Programming Committee Lead for the FSU First-Generation Alumni Network Council! 💼 About Serena Dr. Serena Bradshaw is a counseling psychologist whose work centers on supporting underserved and marginalized communities through therapy, psychoeducation, and advocacy. A proud FSU alumna, she has remained committed to leadership and service through professional organizations, mentorship, and community engagement while continuing to advance mental health and wellness. 🎓 Favorite FSU Memory Anything related to my student organizations. I loved being connected, serving, and learning—from the Black Student Union to service trips with NCNW, and serving as a CARE Ambassador and Team Leader. 💛 Why I Joined the Council I love being a Nole and wanted to give back to FSU in a meaningful way. Being first gen was a large part of my FSU journey, and I want first-gen alumni to know we have to stay connected, so I thought what better way than serving. ➡️ See read Serena’s message to every first-generation Seminole. ☕ P.S. If you ever see Serena, her go-to order is a salted caramel matcha latte with oat milk and pistachio cold foam. Help us welcome Dr. Serena Bradshaw in the comments! ❤️💛 by @fsu.firstgenalumni
✨ Meet Our Secretary: Jasmine Burelsmith We’re excited to introduce Jasmine Burelsmith, our Secretary for the FSU First-Generation Alumni Network Council! 💼 About Jasmine Jasmine Monet Burelsmith is a performer, educator, and arts advocate based in Orlando, Florida. A proud FSU alumna with a BFA in Dance, she has performed with The Tallahassee Ballet and now performs at Walt Disney World while teaching with the Orlando Ballet. Passionate about arts education and accessibility, Jasmine is dedicated to creating opportunities for the next generation of artists. 🎓 Favorite FSU Memory During one of my senior-year dance composition classes, my group created a piece that encouraged audience participation. As the sun set through the windows of Montgomery Hall, our classmates joined us on the dance studio floor, embracing one another during one of our final moments together before graduation. It was such a wholesome and comforting moment to share with my FSU Dance family. 💛 Why I Joined the Council I am extremely driven by arts education and accessibility as a first-gen who graduated with a BFA in Dance. The opportunity to support the first-gen network at FSU as a whole and encourage more first-gen students to pursue their passion within academia would be incredibly fulfilling. Often, first-gen students aren’t able to feasibly pursue degrees rooted in the arts, and I would love to change that narrative and build a community of first-gen artists! ➡️ See Jasmine’s message to every first-generation Seminole. ☕ P.S. If you ever see Jasmine, her go-to coffee order so we can make sure she gets her favorite drink! 💛 Help us welcome Jasmine in the comments! ❤️💛 by @fsu.firstgenalumni
✨ Meet Our Vice-Chair: Marie Mahovetz We’re excited to introduce Marie Mahovetz, our Vice-Chair for the FSU First-Generation Alumni Network Council! 💼 About Marie Marie Mahovetz is a mission-driven operations and program leader passionate about expanding educational access and student success. She specializes in building systems, managing partnerships, and creating programs that help students navigate and thrive in their academic journeys. As a first-generation college graduate, she brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work, with a deep commitment to creating opportunities for future generations of students. 🎓 Favorite FSU Memory I feel immensely proud to have lived in the BPW Scholarship House on Stadium Drive and to have served as a Southern Scholarship Foundation Ambassador. Being part of the SSF community, surrounded by so many first-generation college students, gave me a sense of belonging and showed me what was possible. From my very first Week of Welcome, SSF made a large campus feel like home and became an unforgettable part of my FSU journey. 💛 Why I Joined the Council In my daily work, I often think about the people, support, and resources that changed the trajectory of my life as a first-generation college student. Those experiences continue to shape the way I approach my work and reinforce my commitment to expanding educational opportunity for others. Having the chance to positively impact the experience of students at my alma mater is a meaningful opportunity to give back to a community that played such an important role in my own journey. ➡️ See Marie’s message to every first-generation Seminole. ☕ P.S. If you ever see Marie, her go-to order is a brown sugar oat milk iced latte. Help us welcome Marie in the comments! ❤️💛 by @fsu.firstgenalumni

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