✨ Upstate Magazine Highlight: Wren Bareiss, professor of communication, knows firsthand the challenges and resilience it takes to navigate higher education as a first-gen student. ✨ 💼 After working in the real world for a few years, Wren found his passion for anthropology and returned to school determined to pursue a degree. His journey took him from his job on the factory floor to a Ph.D., with stops along the way at the University of New Mexico, University of Pennsylvania, and Indiana University. 📚 Wren emphasizes the unique strengths first-gen students bring, saying, “Working class/first-generation college students are strong, resilient, and resourceful. The problem is, they don’t always realize it.” 🍎 He reminds students that it’s okay to fail, sharing how a focus on improvement helps keep them motivated, which is a reason to celebrate the resilience and determination that first-gen students and faculty exhibit on a daily basis. 🎓 Learn more about his story and impact at...