Introducing FamilyU’s Inaugural Student Parent Fellows

As one of our Scholar alumna and now staff members, Yoslin Amaya Hernandez, once said: “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” Too often the people who are most impacted by policies and decisions are not invited to the decision-making table. As a consequence, the intended solutions often miss the mark. Since Generation Hope’s inception, one of the common threads woven throughout all of our work is valuing and centering the expertise of students and families. This is also at the core FamilyU, our technical assistance program for colleges and universities to enhance their supports for parenting students, which is why we are thrilled to announce our inaugural Student Parent Fellows: four parenting college students who will work alongside leaders at the four institutions in our 2021 FamilyU Cohort to drive institutional change for student parents.  

Before FamilyU launched in April 2021, we reinforced our commitment to elevating the voices of student parents by asking Generation Hope Scholars to inform its foundation. Now, in this year-long, paid fellowship, student parents will continue to shape these institutional transformations as Student Parent Fellows who will become integral members of each school’s team, working together to create a more family-friendly campus. Through the framework of FamilyU’s core competency areas—Data, Culture, People, and Policy—fellows will be supported as leaders to work alongside academic and administrative staff to drive authentic change. With support from Generation Hope and their respectives institutions, Student Parent Fellows will also be empowered to serve as the liaison between administration and student parents at their schools and act as decision-making representatives.

Generation Hope is thrilled to welcome the inaugural group of FamilyU Student Parent Fellows: Valeria Fernandez, George Mason University; Najah Mills, Montgomery College; Mercy Osei-Hwedie, Northern Virginia Community College; and Lorraine Oyetubo,Trinity Washington University. Each Fellow brings a unique experience to the cohort as well as a passion for supporting and uplifting the student parents in their campus communities.

Meet our Fellows!

Valeria Fernandez, George Mason University

Valeria will begin her enrollment at George Mason University this fall to continue her studies as a third year Psychology student and pursue her passion of forensic art therapy.  While studying and parenting her one-year-old daughter, Valeria also works full-time and enjoys making artwork. She is prepared to advocate for other student parents through sharing her own story as inspiration.

Najah Mills, Montgomery College

Najah, mother of three, is working to complete her associate’s degree in Communications Studies before transferring to a four-year school to get her bachelor’s degree. She is looking forward to using her past experiences to help advocate for the needs of student parents and serve as an example for all that they can achieve.

Mercy Osei-Hwedie, Northern Virginia Community College

Mercy is pursuing her associate’s degree in Cybersecurity at Northern Virginia Community College while parenting her son, and her aspiration is to provide financial freedom for them both. She is a frequent volunteer at her church and believes that inclusivity is one of the best ways to support parents and their children.

Lorraine Oyetubo, Trinity Washington University

Lorraine is studying Human Relations at Trinity while parenting her seven-year-old son. She currently works as a Care Navigator at a primary care doctor's office and is working to become a board certified health coach. Her ultimate goal is to open a mental health facility catered to women and mothers, assisting them in navigating the nuances of being a woman in this society. She is looking forward to sharing her time, energy, and voice to support the student parent community!

We are excited to have their expertise and leadership in driving this work forward and enriching our FamilyU program. To learn more about the Fellows, click here. To learn more about FamilyU and how we're working to transform higher education to better serve student parents, click here. If you have any questions, reach out to us at familyu@generationhope.org.