First-Gen+ Center
Title: (she/her/hers)
Associate Clinical Professor
Department of Social Work
Email: vkirsch@gmu.edu
Groups: I AM FIRST Faculty
| Undergraduate Degree | BA, Georgetown University |
| Graduate Degree | MA, University of Chicago; MSW, Boston University |
| Terminal Degree | Ph.D., Emory University |
| Ask me about…. | Social Work, Psychotherapy, Trauma and Recovery. |
| Other Identities | Jewish |
| Interests and Hobbies | Horses; all creatures great and small; outdoors; poetry. |
Title: (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor Clinical Coordinator
Counseling Program
Email: vstone@gmu.edu
Groups: I AM FIRST Faculty
| Undergraduate Degree | BA, Sociology. California University of PA (now Cal Penn West) |
| Graduate Degree | MEd. School Counseling, California University of PA (now Cal Penn West) |
| Terminal Degree | Ph.D., Counselor Education, and Supervision, Virginia Tech |
| Ask me about…. | The School Counseling or Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs at Mason |
| Undergraduate Degree | Northwestern University, B.A. |
| Graduate Degree | Yale University, M.A. |
| Terminal Degree | Yale University, Ph.D. |
| Ask me about…. | Value of Humanities majors and History scholarship |
| Other Identities | Catholic, lower middle class white, Italian descent, woman |
| Interests and Hobbies | novels, church, gardening, hiking |
| Undergraduate Degree | Nyack College – B.A. English Writing |
| Graduate Degree | New York University – Master of Social Work (MSW) |
| Terminal Degree | University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill – PhD |
| Other Identities | Black US-born Latina |
| Interests and Hobbies | Dancing |
Title: (he/him)
Associate Professor of History
Director of Program
Russian & Eurasian Studies
Email: sbarnes3@gmu.edu
Groups: I AM FIRST Faculty
| Undergraduate Degree | B.A. in Slavic Languages and Literatures from Harvard |
| Graduate Degree | M.A. in Russian History from Stanford |
| Terminal Degree | Ph.D. in Russian History from Stanford |
| Ask me about…. | Russian and Eurasian Studies, Russian language, History, or pretty much anything about experiences as a first-gen, rural-town-moved-to-the-city college student |
| Interests and Hobbies | Reading, NFL football, recreational cycling, TV/movies |
Title: (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor
Environmental Science and Policy
Email: klargen@gmu.edu
Groups: I AM FIRST Faculty
| Undergraduate Degree | BA, University of Virginia |
| Graduate Degree | MS, George Mason University |
| Terminal Degree | Ph.D., George Mason University |
| Interests and Hobbies | Nature, science, travel |
Title: (she/Ella/Ela)
Director
College Access and Career Pathways
Email: khilkerb@gmu.edu
Groups: I AM FIRST Faculty
| Undergraduate Degree | Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of Massachusetts at Amherst |
| Graduate Degree | Master of Science in Counseling, Johns Hopkins University |
| Terminal Degree | In progress Ed.D. in Educational Leadership: STEM Education, American College of Education |
| Ask me about…. | STEM career planning, undergraduate research, transfer, graduate and pre-health professions planning. |
| Other Identities | Latinx, Brazilian, Neurodivergent (Au/ADHD), person with a disability, student-parent. |
| Interests and Hobbies | Reading, travel, roller coaster junkie. |
Title: (she/her/hers)
Professor -Basic Course Director
Communication & Faculty Senate Chair
Email: mbroeke@gmu.edu
Groups: I AM FIRST Faculty
| Undergraduate Degree | BA in English, Kansas State University |
| Graduate Degree | MA in Speech Rhetoric and Communication, Kansas State University |
| Terminal Degree | Ph.D. in Communication Studies, Ohio University |
| Undergraduate Degree | B.S. in Business, VCU |
| Graduate Degree | M.A. in Higher Education and Student Development, GMU |
| Ask me about…. | Human resources, career pathing |
| Other Identities | Black American, cisgender, Christian |
| Interests and Hobbies | travel, cooking, baking, reading, parenting |
Title: (she/they)
Assistant Professor
Leadership Studies
School of Integrative Studies
Email: gmccarro@gmu.edu
Groups: I AM FIRST Faculty
| Undergraduate Degree | Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (International Finance and Marketing) – American University |
| Graduate Degree | M.A. – College Student Personnel (Counseling and Personnel Services) – University of Maryland, College Park |
| Terminal Degree | Ph.D. – University of Maryland, College Park |
| Ask me about…. | Feel free to reach out! |
| Other Identities | Woman, child of immigrants, Italian-American, mom |
| Interests and Hobbies | Reading, baking, time with family and friends |