First-Gen+ Center

Vicki Kirsch

Title: (she/her/hers)
Associate Clinical Professor
Department of Social Work

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.

Victoria J Stone

Title: (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor Clinical Coordinator
Counseling Program

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

Rosemarie Zagarri

Title: Professor of History

Groups: I AM FIRST Faculty

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

Melissa L Villodas

Title: (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor

Groups: I AM FIRST Faculty

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

Steven Barnes

Title: (he/him)
Associate Professor of History
Director of Program
Russian & Eurasian Studies

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

Kim Largen

Title: (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor
Environmental Science and Policy

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

Kerin Hilker-Balkissoon

Title: (she/Ella/Ela)
Director
College Access and Career Pathways

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.

Melissa Broeckelman-Post

Title: (she/her/hers)
Professor -Basic Course Director
Communication & Faculty Senate Chair

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

Jacelyn Tyson

Title: (she/her/hers)
Director of HR

Groups: I AM FIRST Faculty

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

Graziella Pagilarulo McCarron

Title: (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor
Leadership Studies
School of Integrative Studies

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