Orientation and New Student Programs offering monthly programs for first-generation students
September 06, 2024
Shamiah Woods (left) and Mae Dennis, assistant director of Orientation and New Student Programs, chat in OU's First Year Advising Center.
Shamiah Woods remembers the pressures, doubts and fears she faced while preparing to embark on her freshman year at Oakland University. As a first-generation college student, the Detroit native wasn’t sure how to navigate her college journey, from picking a major, to managing her course load, to integrating work and social life. She also questioned how she would fund her education without taking on too much debt.
Kay Jones, former OU senior recruitment advisor and college access coordinator, guided Woods through the landscape of scholarships, grants and loans. She attended the OU Center for Multicultural Initiatives’ CORE Summer Bridge Initiative and was paired with a CORE ambassador who helped her get acclimated to campus. In addition, Woods gained clarity regarding her academic path with assistance from OU’s First Year Advising Center.
“I started off as a business student, and after taking some classes, realized it wasn’t the right direction for me,” she said. “I talked to my adviser, and he helped me find alternative routes where I could still pursue a career in the business world. Once I started taking classes in the Human Resource Development program, I knew it was the right career path for me.”
As a first-generation college student, Shamiah Woods has excelled academically, taken on leadership roles and received OU's Keeper of the Dream Award for breaking down cultural stereotypes and promoting interracial understanding.
