Honors Alum Q&A: Elizabeth Bambacus, Director of First-Generation Student Experience at VCU
Elizabeth Bambacus (Honors, '07), Ph.D., leads You First at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she helps first-generation students, faculty and staff navigate higher education. Bambacus is a proud Honors alum and was kind enough to take some time out of her schedule to talk with us about her time at VCU and in Honors, her role helping first-generation students, her life outside of her career and more.
Major(s) and degree(s) obtained at VCU:
- B.A. in English with a double major in Psychology from the College of Humanities and Sciences
- M.Ed. in Counselor Education with a concentration in College Student Development and Counseling from the School of Education
- Post-master’s certificate in professional counseling from the College of Health Professions
- Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the School of Education
Hometown: Richmond, Va.
Occupation: Director, First-Generation Student Experience, VCU
What have you been up to since graduating from Honors, both personally and professionally?
I’ve had some really diverse professional opportunities! My first full-time position was at the Virginia State Bar, and by the time I left, I was a legal assistant monitoring lawyer advertising and supporting investigations for the unauthorized practice of law. I started working at VCU in 2011 as a first-year academic advisor and transitioned to my current position in 2016.
How do you think Honors helped prepare you for your career in higher education?
The Honors sections of classes I took were fundamental to my academic pursuits, which have led to my career in higher education. The smaller class sizes allowed us to focus on research methodologies and literature reviews, which gave me confidence in my eventual decision to pursue my Ph.D. In fact, my dissertation topic was quite similar to my research paper topic in my Honors ENGL 200 class, which is now UNIV 200. This was well before the HONR 200, 230 and 240 curriculum.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The absolute best part of my job is getting to see college students achieve their goals. The higher education system can be challenging and rigid, and my job is not only to help students navigate it more easily, but also to work on breaking down systemic barriers. I have two favorite types of student meetings: the first is that initial conversation focused on validating the overwhelm, and the second is when the student has not only acclimated but is now thriving.
How do you explain your job and first-gen work to people who may not know what it is?
My job is focused on first-generation college students, and the definition of first-gen is that neither parent nor guardian graduated with a four-year degree. A major focus of my work is demystifying the hidden curriculum, which are the unwritten rules that students are either unaware that they don’t know or feel that they “should” know even though there’s no reason why they would.
Examples include utilizing office hours and getting involved in research. First-gen students are often used to navigating higher ed on their own: from admissions and financial aid, to courses and career preparation. My goal is for students to know that they are not expected to do college on their own–no one is, regardless of background or preparation. Students don’t even need to know what to ask for when reaching out to connect.
Is there a memory/moment/person/course that sticks out in your head as special from your time in Honors and at VCU? If so, why?
I loved the short courses that were offered for 1.5 credit hours. One in particular that I remember was Tai Chi Push Hands. It was entirely different from anything that I had done before, and it was so challenging for me! Another was a drawing class where we spent the entire five weeks on one charcoal drawing with the instructions: draw something that doesn’t look like anything. I’ve referenced knowledge from these short courses (and Berglund Seminars!) in social and professional conversations many times over the years, which I find pretty awesome. I also remember Dr. Everett Worthington’s seminar on forgiveness. He has since retired, but is an internationally renowned expert on forgiveness research. To be able to listen to his story in such an intimate setting was a highlight of my VCU experience.
How do you like to spend your downtime?
Gardening! My partner and I moved from a condo a couple of years ago to a house with a half-acre yard that was overgrown with brush, vines and English ivy. We’ve won the battle (not the war) on the weeds and are cultivating garden spaces with a mix of flowers and vegetables. I’m most at peace when I am outdoors and my hands are covered in dirt.