FGLI’s History

FGLI is a student organization that was established by Jonathan Diaz-Ramos, Vanessa Guzman, and Tyler Patton in 2020. Jonathan Diaz-Ramos, Vanessa Guzman, and Tyler Patton recall being astonished by the fact that only 60 percent of students with college educated parents graduated from college (undergraduate school), whereas first-generation college students only had a 45 percent graduating rate. Both Jonathan Diaz-Ramos and Vanessa Guzman created FGLI in order to prevent William & Mary’s first-generation college students to fit into this regressive trend nationwide.

As executive board leaders of FGLI for three years, Jonathan-Diaz Ramos, Vanessa Guzman, and Tyler Patton have done the following for FGLI:

  • Created a FGLI executive board
  • Created FGLI committees
  • Created Empowerment Workshops
  • Created Academic Workshops
  • Elicited the Creation of Leadership Program between FGLI students and Faculty
  • Initiated FGLI Dialogue between President Rowe
  • Increased the College’s Awareness of FGLI Needs

Both Co-Presidents Jonathan Diaz-Ramos and Vanessa Guzman graduated William & Mary in 2021. In addition, executive board member Tyler Patton graduated William & Mary in 2021. As our former co-presidents and executive board members graduate, the FGLI community wants to emphasize how grateful we have been for their steadfast leadership. Without Jonathan Diaz-Ramos, Vanessa Guzman, and Tyler Patton’s leadership, FGLI would not exist and currently thrive.

Currently, Orley Estrada and Jordan Shield have been elected as co-president of FGLI. Our main missions as current co-president are the following:

  • Fundraise for Study-Abroad Scholarships
  • Continue Empowerment and Academic Workshops
  • Create a well-functioning Student Website
  • Continue Advocating FGLI Needs to President Rowe and Faculty
  • Foster and Maintain FGLI Community
  • Advocate and Empower FGLI Needs