14 May Empowering FirstGen Students: UX Researcher Evelin Garcia Returns to Harvard
This spring, Senior UX Researcher Evelin Garcia, a proud FirstGen Harvard alum, was invited back to her alma mater to speak at the Alumni & Student Mentorship Forum at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The event gathered students and alumni to explore career paths beyond academia, with a focus on mentorship, community, and shared experience. Evelin shares her reflections on the event below.
Returning to Harvard University as a first-generation alumna to speak at the Alumni & Student Mentorship Forum was a full-circle moment.
This event focused on building community, sharing stories, and supporting first-generation students as they navigate what comes next. I had the chance to share my journey, what led me to UX Research, the skills that have helped me most, and the lessons I wish I had known back when I was in their shoes.
Many of the students I met are interested in exploring careers in global health, data science, and applied research, especially outside academia. At the same time, there were honest conversations about the challenges people are facing right now, like funding cuts, burnout, and growing uncertainty about the future of public health and DEI work. Despite all that, students are eager to find new and meaningful ways to make a meaningful impact.
I was lucky to be part of a group of incredible alumni mentors like Seble Yigletu, Valeria Duran, MS, and others who are doing impactful work in public health, data science, tech, pharma, and more. Hearing their stories reminded me how powerful it is to be in spaces rooted in purpose and shared experience.
One message I emphasized with students was the importance of building practical skills alongside research methods. I encouraged them to invest in honing their skills in project management, negotiation, communication, and data visualization, which are just as important as research methods. These have made a real difference in my day-to-day work.
A huge thank you to Yana G. at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health for the invitation and to Fluent Research for supporting my participation. I am grateful for the chance to give back, learn, and be reminded why mentorship matters, no matter where you are in your career.
If you’re a first-generation or Latinx professional navigating your own journey, let’s connect!
By Senior User Experience Researcher Evelin Garcia.