First-Gen+ Center

Jessica Latrice Harley

Title: (she/her/hers)
Family Nurse Practitioner
Lead Health Equity NP

Groups: I AM FIRST STAFF

Undergraduate Degree University of Alabama at Birmingham/Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Graduate Degree Simmons University/Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Terminal Degree George Mason University/Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP)
Other Identities African American/Black,

Joisanne Rodgers

Title: (she/her/hers)
Director
Contemporary Student Services

Groups: I AM FIRST STAFF

Undergraduate Degree B.A. in Political Science, Dance Studies from Allegheny College
Graduate Degree M.A.E. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Western Kentucky University
Terminal Degree Ed.D. in Leadership, Higher Education focus from American College of Education
Other Identities Ask me about higher education–how to navigate, transitioning between institutions, next steps, career options, etc. Ask me about getting together to chat!

Julio A Diaz

Title: (he/him/his)
Academic Advisor
College of Public Health

Groups: I AM FIRST STAFF

Undergraduate Degree BA Music/George Mason University
Graduate Degree MA Higher Education and Student Development/George Mason University
Other Identities Going to grad school, Navigating Student Services, Student Leadership opportunities

Felicita R Minionis

Title: Administrative Coordinator
College of Education & Human Development

Groups: I AM FIRST STAFF

Undergraduate Degree B.A. Speech Communication – George Mason University

Jill Manuel

Title: (she/her/hers)
Graduate Admission Specialist

Groups: I AM FIRST STAFF

Undergraduate Degree Bachelor of Arts in English, University of South Alabama
Graduate Degree Master’s of Arts, Higher Education Administration and Student Development
Terminal Degree Ph.D. in Education in-progress
Ask me about….. Overcoming barriers, college readiness, navigating the higher ed landscape, adverse childhood experiences related to the pursuit of higher education,
 Other identities beyond being first Gen. 2nd generation American
Female
Grandaughter of asylee’s
Interests and Hobbies Education, reading, baking, knitting, traveling

DaFran Ware

Title: (she/her/hers)
Director of Undergraduate Academic Advising
College of Engineering and Computing

Groups: I AM FIRST STAFF

Undergraduate Degree Bachelor of Arts, Psychology-George Mason University
Graduate Degree Master of Arts, Higher Education Administration-George Mason University

Idee Edalatishams

Title: (she/her/hers)
Faculty ESL Specialist The Writing Center

Groups: I AM FIRST STAFF

Undergraduate Degree BA in English Language Translation, Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Graduate Degree MA in English Language Teaching, Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Terminal Degree PhD in Applied Linguistics and Technology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Ask me about….. Getting a PhD
Publishing in academic journals
Academic communication (oral and written)
 Other identities beyond being first Gen. Iranian/Persian
First Language Speaker of Farsi/Persian
Middle Eastern

Brittney Dalmas

Title: (she/her/hers)
Director of Finance & Operations

Groups: I AM FIRST STAFF

Undergraduate Degree GMU – English with a minor in Creative Writing
Graduate Degree MA in English – Teaching of Writing & Literature
Terminal Degree
Ask me about…. MFA in Creative Nonfiction;
Currently enrolled in Ph.D. program – Writing & Rhetoric.
Interests and Hobbies Writing, reading

April Lopez

Title: (she/her/hers)
Administrative Assistant to the Director
Division of Special Education and disAbility Research

Groups: I AM FIRST STAFF

Undergraduate Degree MPhys (Physics), University of Oxford, United Kingdom

Keshani Perera

Title: (she/her/hers)
CAPS- Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Groups: I AM FIRST STAFF

Undergraduate Degree BSc in Psychology- Missouri University of Science and Technology
Graduate Degree MA in Counseling Psychology and Psy.D in Clinical, Counseling, and Applied Psychology– William Paterson University of New Jersey
Terminal Degree Psy.D in Clinical, Counseling, and Applied Psychology– William Paterson University of New Jersey
Ask me about…. Psychology Research
Immigration Issues
Pre/post-immigration trauma
Intergenerational trauma
Acculturation
Undocumented Issues/ Asylum Evaluation/ Finding affordable asylum related resources
Bicultural Identity Integration
Mental Health Stigma
Multicultural Issues
Pursing grad school
Pursuing a career in psychology
Other Identities Female, South Asian, Sri Lankan, Immigrant, [past] International Student, Christian, Frist language is Sinhala, country of origin is Sri Lanka, former professional athlete.