Empowering Transfer Students: A Story of Resilience and Success

Amy Brown's journey to higher education has been marked by challenges, but also by determination and a commitment to empowering others. A transfer student from Cleveland State Community College, Brown received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in May, and is now pursuing a master's degree in psychological science. Despite facing obstacles, including feeling lost and confused on her first day on campus, Brown has become a leading advocate for transfer students, launching a year-long pilot program and serving as UTC's first transfer student peer mentor.

Key Takeaways:

• Amy Brown's path to higher education was unconventional, having been pulled out of school after the 8th grade and later earning her GED diploma as an adult.
• Brown's experience as a transfer student was marked by feelings of isolation and confusion, but she has used her experiences to empower others, including launching a year-long pilot program for transfer students.
• As a transfer student peer mentor, Brown organized events to bring transfers together and provided one-on-one mentoring to isolated students.
• Brown's role has focused on connecting with transfer students and helping them feel seen and recognized, and she hopes to continue being a voice for the nearly 3,000 transfer students enrolled at UTC.
• Brown's experience has shown that being a transfer student can be empowering, and she hopes to inspire others to pursue their education despite obstacles.

Statistics:

• Brown, Amy. Cleveland State Community College. Retrieved from:
• The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is home to nearly 3,000 transfer students.