JourneyGPS is seeking passionate, student-centered instructors to join My Circle of Champions, an innovative and rapidly growing program that helps first-generation and historically marginalized college students build a powerful network of support around them.

Ask most people who invented the light bulb and they will say Thomas Edison. One man, alone in a workshop. That image is almost entirely wrong — Edison ran a laboratory in Menlo Park filled with scientists, engineers, and technicians. We remember a single name because we love a story about an individual conquering a problem alone. Almost none of our great stories are actually about that.

A number of years ago, I had the privilege of getting to know a student named Brenda Lopez. She did not even know engineering existed as a field until faculty and classmates at Norco College showed her a version of herself she had never been able to imagine.

My father-in-law, Harry David Weakly, passed away last week from complications associated with stomach cancer. He never helped me write a college paper or advised me on graduate school, but he was one of my greatest Champions all along.

I'd like to start this week's article with a riddle: I am a billionaire who constantly talks about helping low- and middle-income people, but in reality I spend most of my resources quietly helping wealthy and powerful families maintain their wealth and power. Who am I?

When I became president of Norco College, I met with the warden of a state prison less than a quarter mile from campus, then found myself standing in front of a group of incarcerated men who peppered me with questions about earning a degree. Their hunger for education, and their total lack of shame in asking for help, knocked me off center.

As a young assistant professor, I asked people to recommend faculty members I should watch. The name that came up over and over was Professor Howard Taslitz — a master teacher whose thirty years of technique was almost entirely lost when he retired.

For 19 years, I taught at a community college in the Los Angeles area, and one professional development topic surfaced again and again: culturally responsive teaching. My STEM colleagues often struggled with the idea — until a young faculty member reframed it for me in a single sentence: "Numbers are numbers, and words are words."

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Chicago for a family wedding during the grand opening week of the Obama Presidential Center. What struck me most wasn't the architecture — it was watching thousands of people imagine new possibilities for themselves, and a question I haven't been able to shake since.

I was home visiting my parents during my junior year in college. My younger brother had spent the day at the dealership turning wrenches; I had spent it reading and writing in the back bedroom. When my mother started dinner for him because he'd "worked hard all day," I realized: people think about work very differently.

In my first two years of college I lived in Tenaya Hall, a dormitory at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. One evening, a friend pointed toward a student in the back of the study room and said, "That guy just got accepted for transfer to U.C. Berkeley" — and I had no idea what that meant, or why it mattered so much.

Several years ago, when I was president of Norco College, I tried a simple experiment: personally encouraging our strongest students of color to apply to USC. The results weren't about the numbers — they were about the ceiling we unintentionally set for students who never needed a smaller dream.

A few years ago, my wife and I traveled to Japan to visit our middle daughter while she was studying abroad. A quiet moment of cultural misunderstanding on a train in Tokyo taught me something important about the invisible rules that shape higher education too.

Over the years, I have had a version of the same conversation with many first-generation STEM students, especially students from immigrant families. At some point, I ask them a simple question: "Can you tell me your family's immigration story?"

A few years ago, I gave a TEDx Talk about a problem in higher education that I believe we still do not talk about enough: unequal support systems. It is not a problem of intelligence, motivation, or effort — it is about the invisible advantage some students carry into college, and how the Circle of Champions helps close that gap.

The idea of creating a support network may not be entirely unique, however it is something that many of us often take for granted.

When recalling her observations during the first semester, Jourjina’s students were enthusiastically interacting with each other on the platform and in the classroom.

FirstGen America (FGA) is seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented Executive Assistant to support day-to-day operations, partnership coordination, and grant-related activities. This is a remote role ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic, mission-driven environment and is comfortable managing multiple priorities with care and precision.

Circle of Champions is honored to receive a College Future Foundations Grant to advance economic mobility for adult learners across California.

Champions play an important role in a student’s journey, but support looks different for every student. Each month, we share reminders and practices to help Champions support their students in ways that are thoughtful, respectful, and student centered support. In this week’s message; Nancy Mora, our Champion

This week's student reflection highlights an important shift: Asking for help is not a last resort, it is a strength.

Jourjina Alkhouri initially thought the students in her biology class would search for champions outside of the classroom. But when the idea was brought up to her that champions could be peers, she gave it a second thought.

At My Circle of Champions, we see the impact of women every day. They show up as Champions, faculty, mothers, sisters, mentors, and community leaders.

Champions play an important role in a student's journey, but support looks different for every student. Each month, we share reminders and practices to help Champions support their students in ways that are thoughtful, respectful, and student centered support.

Today we are sharing some words from faculty member Jourjina Alkhouri, a Biology professor at Merced College. In today's clip, she discusses her introduction to her first semester integrating the platform into her courses.

Nominating your Champions for your Circle can seem like a daunting task, however, keep in mind - you're in the driver seat! As your journey takes shape and may change course, so can your Circle!

At My Circle of Champions, we highlight student reflections that show how the program is shaping their experience and sense of support by centering student voices.

Once a month we at My Circle of Champions wanted to give advice to our champions, we realize that sometimes we also need help and learn how to be supportive.

Demonstrated throughout history, it is our heritage, our background and our identities that guide us in everyday life with the lessons learned from our peers, mentors, family, and others we hold dear.

During our conversation with Leticia Palacios, we asked her what her thoughts on the concept of My Circle of Champions, and what she feels it can provide for students who are struggling.

This week, we're sharing a student reflection that highlights the importance of community, reflection, and long term perspective.

Today, My Circle of Champions honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his enduring commitment to justice, equity, and collective responsibility.

My Circle of Champions sat down with Leticia Palacios, a general education counselor at Gavilan College and asked - "What challenges do students have starting college?"

At My Circle of Champions we want to highlight our students comments that reflect how My Circle of Champions is shaping their experience and sense of support by recognizing our student's voices!

As we step into the new year, we are excited to share more of the work happening across our community and the people at the heart of it.

A Community College Research Center report recently highlighted the importance of champions in a student's life. Surrounding first-gen students with informed family, mentors, friends and college personnel matters!

We spoke with Mia, a STEM student at Gavilan College, and asked: "Do you feel the program has changed your mindset toward your academic goals?"

We're still looking for passionate faculty to join My Circle of Champions! Are you a STEM faculty member committed to closing the academic equity gap for Hispanic and first-generation students?

We're excited to introduce Rocky Chavez as the newest addition to the My Circle of Champions team! Rocky is a multi-talented creative with over 7 years of professional experience in photography, videography, music production, and live sound.

We sat down with Rachel, a chemistry faculty member at Gavilan College, and asked: "What do you hope to see in the future with My Circle of Champions?"

We asked Elizabeth Flores, STEM Counselor at Gavilan College: "What would you say to other faculty or institutions considering bringing the My Circle of Champions network to their campus?"

We asked Rachel, a dedicated faculty member at Gavilan College: "What do you think about the My Circle of Champions program?"

As we continue sharing stories from Gavilan College, we sat down with Nancy, a student in the My Circle of Champions network, who offered a unique perspective on how the program's AI feature is making an impact.

As we continue spotlighting voices from Gavilan College, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Elizabeth Flores, a dedicated STEM Counselor and advocate for student success.

We are thrilled to welcome Joe Dominguez to My Circle of Champions! He will be bringing his wealth of leadership experience and community-focused vision to help us continue closing the STEM gap for Hispanic students.

We are calling on STEM faculty leaders who are passionate about closing the academic equity gap for Hispanic STEM students. Join us in expanding the Circle of Champions Network to increase the sense of belonging and academic success in STEM for students of color.

We're thrilled to announce that Gavilan College is officially rolling out My Circle of Champions (CoC) in several of its classes—and we couldn't be happier to see the ball finally rolling!

I'm thrilled to share some exciting news with you! We've just secured a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant in partnership with Gavilan College, including UCLA and UPenn as research partners.

See the Circle of Champions support network in action! With the unwavering support of her champions and coaches, Christiana has succeeded with confidence.

This video looks at the motivation behind bringing the Circle of Champions to Gavilan College.

This video provides an introduction to the Circle of Champions Network.

This video explores some of the more common challenges first generation college students face in STEM disciplines. Some strategies to meet these challenges are discussed as well.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 13.6 percent of the American population is African American. In 2018, educationdata.org looked at all undergraduates in the U.S. and found that 13.8 percent were Black.

First-generation students often come to college with a limited view of what the world has to offer them. This is largely due to the people who have been in their lives while growing up.

What is it like to have a Circle of Champions on your academic journey? We asked one of our students from JourneyGPS this question and her response is beautiful.

The fastest growing race/ethnicity group in America over the last half century have been Latina/o Americans. Today, there are over 60 million Hispanics living in the U.S.

First-generation students come from communities with friends and family who love them, but often lack college experience and know-how. As a result, these students receive less guidance in their academic journeys.