More than three dozen first-year students from throughout Michigan and across the country have embarked on a new journey as the newest cohort of the Kessler Presidential Scholars Program. The students are among the first in their families to go to college through the Kessler Presidential Scholars Program, a comprehensive program for first-generation students that is using research and real-time student feedback to transform the first-generation experience.
The scholarship was established 10 years ago by Fred Wilpon, real estate developer and owner of the New York Mets, and his wife, Judy Kessler Wilpon. This fall will mark the second year of a two-year pilot program that combines financial support for tuition and other expenses, guidance from professional staff, support from peer mentors, and a strong community of fellow first-generation students.
“We know the challenges first-generation students face, and they go beyond financial costs. For these students and their families, college is a completely new experience. It is not enough to give them a scholarship and wish them good luck. They need support from an academic, social, and professional standpoint as well,” said Elizabeth R. Cole, interim dean of the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. “By combining scholarship funding, academic guidance, and a supportive community, we are helping students thrive here at the University of Michigan. We’re committed to our Kessler Scholars from the moment they walk on campus, and I’m very excited to welcome them to LSA.”
Now in its tenth year, the Kessler Scholars Program underwent a significant overhaul in the 2017-2018 academic year, adopting an innovative, research-based approach for first-generation student support at LSA. Part of the revamp included a new partnership with the Science Learning Center for tutoring access, a seminar to help first-year students adjust to college, career workshops, and the Peer Mentor Program, which connects first-year Kessler Scholars with upper-level Kessler Scholars to help foster their academic, social, and professional growth. The Kessler Scholars Program also closely tracks student outcomes to evaluate the impact of its interventions.
And the successes are clear. The four- and six-year graduation rate for Kessler Scholars are 82 percent and 96 percent respectively, higher than their first-generation peers at U-M and comparable institutions across the United States.
“We are excited to welcome the incoming students and to see all the great things they will contribute to LSA and the University of Michigan,” said Gail Gibson, director of the Kessler Presidential Scholars Program. “The program is driven by academic research, which shows that community-building and support is just as important as funding. By providing access to critical resources and working directly with Kessler Scholars, we are able to help students succeed at Michigan and after graduation.”
The new cohort consists of 36 first-generation students from across the country, all of whom have demonstrated academic excellence and a personal passion for giving back to their community.
“The Kessler Scholars Program has not only provided me financial support through my studies at the University of Michigan, but it has also provided me with a community and support system. Being a Kessler Scholar means having unwavering support from everyone who is a part of the Kessler Scholars Program,” said rising senior and Kessler Scholar Salma Ali. “From meetings with faculty and staff, events put on throughout the year, and various Kessler alumni giving back to the program, I can’t imagine my years at U-M without the program. I am grateful to be a part of the Kessler Scholars Program because of kind, supportive people who truly care about and value each of us.”
The 2018–2019 Kessler Scholars (hometowns and intended areas of study) are as follows:
To learn more about the Kessler Scholars Program, visit lsa.umich.edu.
This story was originally published by the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science and the Arts.
ANN ARBOR—When Lorraine Gutierrez first attended the University of Michigan 30 years ago as a doctoral student, she faced questions she’d never been asked before.
“What is a Latino? What’s a Hispanic? And the question many of us have been asked: ‘Where are you from? Where are you really from?'” recalled Gutierrez, now the Arthur F. Thurnau professor of psychology at U-M. “At the time, our community was very, very small.
“Our community here has had many ups and downs but overall we have moved toward larger enrollments, larger numbers of Latinx faculty and staff, and had a much stronger voice and stronger presence at our university,” said Gutierrez, the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony for the 2018 Latinx Heritage Month.
“We are still a very small fraction of our student body of the faculty and our staff but our voice has continued to grow.”
More than 350 students, faculty and staff attended the event held at the Michigan League Ballroom Sept. 11.
U-M president Mark Schlissel, who was among those who welcomed students to campus, regretted not being able to eat the meal cooked and presented by Latino chefs at the event. It included coconut fish, fried plantains, rice and beans, onion and tomato salad, and tres leches cake.
“I promised my wife I would have dinner with her,” he said, adding he would make sure to bring her along for next year.
“On behalf of the leadership of the university, we’re absolutely thrilled that you’re here,” he told students. “We know you’re talented, you work hard, you’ve got passion and you’re going to be successful in life. And we’re really, really happy that you came to our community to help continue the process of raising us up and being a community as good and strong as a community as we can possibly be.”
Javier Solorzano, program manager at Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, and Lesley Rivas, lead director of La Casa, presented this year’s events from a variety of offices, schools, student organizations, and Latinx sororities. The event included a presentation of traditional dances from Latin America, “Cueca y Marinera,” performed by U-M students Cristina Castillo and Bryan Terrazas.
Catalina Ormsby, director of U-M’s National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good, called on students to continue working to creating a welcoming atmosphere for all students.
“You have been serving as models for our campus. It is because of you and your efforts that also faculty and staff are coming together,” said Ormsby, a board member with the Professional Latino at U-M Alliance. “I hope that today replicates, and the enthusiasm that I see around the room doesn’t go away when it gets a little bit colder and you see the snow. Let’s keep coming together.”
To find the Latinx Heritage Month Calendar 2018, visit: myumi.ch/J7xNm
Vijita Kamath dreams of working on Wall Street.
But before she gets there, the U-M junior studying finance and math plans to change the industry from right here in Ann Arbor.
Kamath serves as vice president of new member relations for Michigan Interactive Investments, an investment club for undergraduate students at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. The role includes heading up recruitment efforts for the highly selective organization.
“I aspire to shape the future of Michigan Interactive Investments by developing a membership base that encompasses a range of majors, identities, nationalities, genders and interests to send our message that anyone who is passionate about investing will find a home in Michigan Interactive Investments,” Kamath said.
Changing Wall Street
Kamath’s goal is ambitious, despite initially having her own reservations about applying for membership.
Wall Street and the financial services industry are known for their male-dominated cultures, and almost all of the top banks in the U.S. are run by men.
“I was scared about feeling like an outsider, not being taken seriously, or being treated as a token female member,” she said.
A recent study published by Catalyst, a nonprofit organization that focuses on advancing the careers of women, reported that women account for less than 17 percent of senior leaders in investment banking. In private equity, women make up only 9 percent of senior executives and 18 percent of total employees, according to a 2017 report produced by data and intelligence agency, Preqin.
At hedge funds and private debt firms, the numbers are similarly low — women fill just 11 percent of leadership roles.
When it comes to achieving gender equality, finance has not kept pace with many other professional fields, such as law, academia and medicine. That is despite the fact that women now receive the majority of college degrees issued in the U.S. at every level, from bachelor’s degrees to doctorates.
Kamath said she understands that declining numbers among women studying finance paired with low job satisfaction, calls for creative solutions to combat the problem.
Creating a Pipeline
With a considerable gap in the presence of women in the financial services industry as decision makers, in front of and behind the scenes, advocacy groups say representation matters. Advocacy and mentorship are important pillars in transforming perceptions and solidifying more seats at the table for women.
Kamath and the investment club’s leadership aim to increase the proportion of women and minorities applying to the club, as well as reach out to different majors on campus.
“A psychology major will look at an investment in a different way, an engineer might understand a company and a biology major can give us perspective on processes in different industries,” Kamath said.
Taking Action
Michigan Interactive Investments has already taken the first step to make the process more inclusive to people without prior finance experience by rethinking the application process.
They have also organized a special diversity panel and plan to share their goals on Sunday, Sept. 9. Prospective members can interact with current members in an informal setting and receive support with their applications.
To make the group more inclusive, considerations are also being made for those who in one way or another represent a minority group.
“We have a comprehensive program for new members to help them fully integrate into the club and build camaraderie,” said Alexander Rein, the club’s president.
Every year, the club organizes the ENGAGE Undergraduate Investment Conference, the largest collegiate investing conference in the country. Kamath said the groups has made a conscious effort to work with organizations like the Forte Foundation and Girls Who Invest. Both non-profits are dedicated to developing a pipeline of women prepared to take on significant and fulfilling careers in finance and business.
The club has also worked to increase the number speakers at the conference who are top female executives in the industry. This year’s conference includes Fahmi Quadir, founder of Saftkhet Capital Management.Kamath said both men and women benefit from seeing more women acting as leaders and decision makers within the industry since they bring different perspectives and experiences.
While the movement to close the gender gap has seen progress over the past several decades, in some industries women remain underrepresented.
Undeterred, undaunted and unflinching, four women from the University of Michigan — recent alumna and current students — led a discussion at the Ann Arbor Library this month on how they have managed their early careers in male-dominated sectors. They discussed what led them to their industries, the challenges they face as women and advice they have for women at the start of their careers.
In their words
“Not many people realize that graphic design, or design in general, is a male-dominated field. Statistically, women are awarded a higher percentage of the degrees in art, design and communication, yet men get a majority of the jobs in these fields. It’s concerning to look at these statistics and realize that my gender puts me in a disadvantaged position despite the qualifications I have.
“I’ve learned that I have the opportunity to empower myself and other women in this community by demanding appropriate and equal pay, confronting gendered policies and treatment and providing resources and support to other women in the field.
“Communication is essential to work toward equality in the workplace. Communicate with both male and female coworkers about their salaries, even if it’s discouraged. Communicate with supervisors and coworkers about discriminatory policies, actions and language.
“Speaking up about inequality may feel risky and uncomfortable, but it will help build a future where women and their talents are respected in the workplace.”
Shannon Riedel, University of Michigan senior majoring in psychology and minoring in art & design
A 2009 A List Apart poll, created by and for web designers, indicated nearly 83 percent of web designers are male, yet a third believed there was “definitely not” a gender bias in the design field. A List Apart is a publication that explores the design, development and meaning of web content, with a special focus on web standards and best practices.
“In all of medicine, a good amount of our leadership across specialties is still composed primarily of men. Men make ultimate decisions about who gets hired, who gets tenure and how practices run. Men also make decisions about access to medical care and treatment practices. Even though women might be in the field, it feels like we’re allowed to come. We just aren’t allowed to make many decisions when we get to the table.
“I often feel like people are skeptical of my commitment to medicine because I am a woman and may want to also have a family in the future. I also feel as though I have to work much harder to prove my intelligence and commitment to medicine because I am a woman and I am also black.
“One of the best ways I have been able to overcome barriers is to seek community with other black women and other women of color who are underrepresented in my fields. As a black woman, or anyone who experiences multiple types of oppression, I have learned multiple skills. These include everything from code-switching and working longer, harder and smarter than my white and/or male peers to prove that I am adequate to people in charge.
“However, this is a lonely existence, especially when there are few people to turn to who have similar experiences. I have been fortunate enough to have a community with women of color who are willing to support me.
“For other women who are looking to pursue careers in male-dominated areas, I would tell them to make sure they are following their passion. Male-dominated fields are not easy and they are often not friendly to women. If it isn’t your passion, it isn’t worth it.
“I would also tell them to find women mentors. And for women of color, find women of color to mentor you.”
Micaela Stevenson, first-year medical student the University of Michigan Medical School
A 2017 report from The Greenlining Institute and the Artemis Medical Society found that women of color are severely underrepresented among U.S. physicians and face serious barriers to entering medicine and succeeding in the field. Women of color represent less than 12 percent of M.D. physicians, despite making up nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population.
“Certain specialties in medicine are still male-dominated. However about half of my medical school colleagues are women. I see a decline in the percentage of women in higher positions in each department, such as deans of medical schools.
“Thankfully, I haven’t faced too many challenges yet as a woman in the medical field. I continue to prepare myself for a future of challenges though, as I know that I will have to fight harder for my salary, fight harder to move up in my field and constantly toe the line of the right amount of assertiveness.
“So far, my experience in the medical community is that I need to be confident, and assertive. Most male colleagues have been taught from a young age that being assertive and aggressive will be rewarded, whereas I, like many women, have grown up in a society that values women’s agreeableness and ability to please others. I have some amazing women role models, including my sister and mother, who have shown me how to advocate for myself and those I care for.
“I would tell other women that they should follow their passion. Going into medicine for me was not about trying to even the playing field for myself and other women, but more about my passion. I know my passion and unique experiences and perspectives will help change the face of medicine for the better.
“Every woman should feel confident in what she chooses as a career and should feel supported by the community she enters.”
Claire Collins, second-year medical student at the University of Michigan Medical School.
Being a doctor is hard. A recent study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates it can be even harder for women. Female medical residents and physicians endure bias and a larger burden with home duties. They also face a greater risk of depression.
“Growing up I wanted to be everything from an archaeologist to a French teacher, but I was never into computers or video games or anything that could have predicted that I would end up in IT.
“In high school, I did well in my more computational classes like math and physics but thought that meant that I should be an engineer. I had convinced myself I would never make a good engineer because I didn’t know anything about cars, so I never pursued it.
“When I got to college I took nearly all non-computational classes and really struggled before I realized that being good at math and science did not mean that I had to be an engineer. I was trying to find classes that were more like the classes I excelled in before and I ended up with a killer semester that included an intro programming course and Calculus III.
“It only took a few weeks of that intro programming class for me to fall in love with coding, and the rest is history.
“Every challenge I’ve faced has been complex and different and certainly not always because I am a woman. The challenges I’ve faced have been as small as stressing about what to wear to work so that I would blend in with my coworkers and as big as sexual harassment, but most lie somewhere in between.
“Those are problems, however, that men face as well, and thinking about the struggles I’ve faced as exclusively women’s problems is not helpful to anyone. Workplaces and educational communities can, in my opinion, never solve the challenges that women face if we’re not thinking about women’s issues as everybody’s issues.
“If you’re interested in an industry that is heavily dominated by men, I say go for it. You are entirely capable of handling everything that lies in front of you. Your unique voice in the conversation is not only wanted, but needed.
“When we’ve finally convinced you to join us in these industries, get involved. The thing that has helped me most when the going gets rough is having an incredible support system. The best mentors, who have gotten me through the toughest problems I’ve faced, have been the most unexpected.
“You can learn something from everyone around you; and everyone around you can learn something from you.”
Charlotte Shreve, University of Michigan alumna and software developer
In the U.S., women are vastly outnumbered by men in technology fields. According to Girls Who Code, a nonprofit that aims to support and increase the number of women in computer science, women hold only 24 percent of computer science jobs, down from 37 percent in 1995, and occupy roughly 11 percent of executive positions in Silicon Valley.