Meet a Roadrunner: Grad student uses her research to reach students
(Oct. 8, 2014) -- Meet Angelica Tello. A doctoral student in the UTSA College of Education and Human Development, Tello recently was featured in the international publication Therapy Today for an essay she wrote on her experience as a first-generation college student.
As part of the Department of Counseling, her research on Latina first-generation college students will one day help others with similar experiences to hers.
"I was looking for a program focused on diversity and multicultural counseling. I felt really connected coming to the UTSA campus," she said about why she chose UTSA for her graduate degrees.
Growing up in poverty, Tello found herself in an unfamiliar situation as an undergraduate student at UT Austin. As she's progressed in her education, first graduating with a master's degree and now pursuing a Ph.D at UTSA, the divide between her roots and what she has been learning has grown even more.
"I've been really drawn to qualitative research and giving a voice to people who belong to marginalized groups, including first-generation students," Tello said. "I think we can really learn from the voices of those who have been successful."
And perhaps the most important group she's already affected is her family. Both of her younger sisters have followed in her footsteps and are undergraduate students at UTSA.
"I'm really happy and proud of my sisters, that they're moving forward and they have an interest in graduate school, too. Here at UTSA they really felt supported," she said, adding that they were first exposed to UTSA when she started studying here.
Tello plans to continue her research after she graduates from UTSA this fall.
"I would like to be a faculty member at a university where I can continue my line of research and teach courses in counseling," she said.
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Events
This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.