Turning Points and Triumphs: Guiding First-Genration Students to Their True Calling with Dr. Ashanti Chunn

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Have you ever considered every turn in your path as a stepping stone towards your true calling? Dr. Ashanti Chunn, our guest from Tennessee State University, shares her compelling switch from biology to education and how it fueled her passion for mentoring first-generation college students through the transformative You FIRST Project. Join us on First Gen FM, where we discuss storytelling and its impact on personal and professional growth.
As our conversation unfolds, we uncover the innovative Life Design curriculum at the heart of the You FIRST Project. This eight-semester guide, inspired by the work of William Johnson and Kathleen Shea Smith, is a beacon for students navigating the waters of self-discovery and career planning. Listen to how personality assessments and crafting personal mission statements can chart a course for meaningful work aligned with core values. We tackle the challenge of sparking voluntary engagement and continuously adapting to guide the way for student needs.
The episode culminates with a poignant exploration of persistence and identity in student support, dissecting their critical roles in retention and success. Dr. Chunn and I peel back the layers of student experiences, revealing the trials of homesickness and financial anxiety that can masquerade as thriving. We celebrate the evolution of support services, such as virtual sessions and honor societies, which are tailored to first-generation students. We part with empowering advice for those guiding the college-bound: support first-generation students with the tools they need to weave their education into their unique timeline and aspirations. Tune in and embrace this heartfelt dialogue, affirming the power of support over pity for first-generation students charting their course in higher education.
Dr. Ashanti Chunn's Bio
Ashanti Chunn, Ed.D. currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Tennessee State University You First Project Graduation Initiatives for First-Generation Students. Additionally, she directs the grant’s Journey to 120 credits activity and serves as one of the project’s First-Generation Specialists where she leads a team of three to help students actualize their college dreams. Previously, she served as the Activity Director of the Pathfinders Project at TSU. In that position, she identified and enacted academic support programming for first and second-year students in pre-professional majors such as nursing, health sciences, and dental hygiene. Before these positions, she served as an Academic Advisor for TRIO Student Support Services where she assisted first-generation and lower-income students to attain academic achievement and identify various career paths.
Links:
TSU You First Project: https://www.tnstate.edu/youfirst/
Instagram: @tsu_youfirst Life Design Catalyst Curriculum: https://thedreamdean.com/life-design-catalyst-program/

University of Oklahoma Coaching to Complete Model/Persistence Themes: https://www.ou.edu/alc/ou-alc-coaching-to-complete-model

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You can find me at https://www.firstgenfm.com/ and on LinkedIn. My email is [e-mail].

Chapters

1. Turning Points and Triumphs: Guiding First-Genration Students to Their True Calling with Dr. Ashanti Chunn (00:00:00)

2. Gen FM Podcast and UFIRST Project (00:00:08)

3. Life Design Curriculum for Students (00:13:20)

4. Persistence and Identity in Student Support (00:26:03)

5. Navigating College (00:29:55)

6. Supporting First-Gen Students in College (00:36:50)