First Gen Proud at the School of Dentistry
November 6-10 celebrates First Generation College Student Week, honoring those who are the first in their family to complete a degree. At the School of Dentistry, we celebrate and honor our first generation students across programs. We spoke to first generation learners to hear what being the first means to them, and how they're forging their own paths forward.
Submissions have been edited for length and style.
First Gen Stories
Khalid Ali
DDS '26
Why did you choose dentistry?
My path toward dentistry has been a journey of exploration across multiple career paths, including business and architecture, before I eventually decided to pursue a biochem degree. Along the way, I realized that dentistry uniquely combines many of my interests. What I find captivating about dentistry is the combination of science and art, allowing for improving both the function and aesthetics of a person's smile. I also have a deep appreciation for the health sciences and a strong desire to serve others, and dentistry provides the perfect platform for me to do so.
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student?
Being a first-generation student offered a unique opportunity for growth. As the first in my family on both sides to attend college, I faced the challenge of exploring various career paths and paving my own path. I never saw it as a disadvantage but rather as a chance to establish a strong foundation for my siblings to pursue their dreams and honor my parents' sacrifices. While there were times when it felt overwhelming, such as planning my post-grad future or considering the steps needed for grad school or professional school, the experience was rewarding. I'm grateful to my parents, family, and mentors for their moral support and encouragement, strengthening my confidence as I moved forward.
What are you most proud of on your educational journey?
I take the most pride in inspiring my siblings to pursue higher education and forge their own paths. Additionally, I am proud of embracing difficult challenges, such as pursuing a rigorous degree, self-teaching personal interests in graphic design and branding, and running a business outside school. I consistently challenged my way of thinking and ability and explored new opportunities. Throughout my journey, I have realized that a significant portion of one's success results from accepting the challenge and following that by consistently showing up.
Abdirahim Askar
DDS '25
Why did you choose dentistry?
It allows me to utilize my hands and creatively synchronize art and science to enhance oral health in my community. Furthermore, teaching is a massive part of my “why dentistry” because, as dental professionals, we can teach our patients daily the value of good oral health as community leaders. Lastly, I hope to give back to communities like the one I come from by exposing them to the dental profession and supporting them with greater opportunities so we can increase the number of underrepresented minorities in dental school.
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student?
Being a first-generation Somali professional student, I always knew the value of education. My parents sacrificed so much to give me the opportunity they never had, and I am incredibly grateful for it. That is why I always strive to be the best student, taking full advantage of the blessings bestowed upon me. Also, being a Somali student here at the University of Minnesota, I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with a diverse population of students and patients and to reach back to my community, as Minnesota has the most significant population of Somali Americans in the United States as well. Not only do I get the luxury of treating such a diverse community of patients, but I can also reach out to my community uniquely and provide them with the much-needed care they deserve. Hence, I take great pride in being a first-generation student and will continue to work hard to be everything I know I can be and everything my parents would hope for.
What are you most proud of on your educational journey?
The 1991 Somali Civil War led many Somali families to scatter around the world, amongst them my very own. I was born into a home where the constant echoes of hope reminded me of a land I’d never seen. My parents always worked long, hard hours to meet our financial needs as immigrants. However, they never lost hope in the many opportunities that lay ahead. Being a child of two immigrant parents from Somalia, I greatly appreciate all the sacrifices made to provide me with the opportunity I possess. I am most proud of being able to live out my dream of becoming an oral health professional and making my parents and those closest to me proud of how far I have reached.
Rylee Burnett
BSDH '25
Why did you choose dental hygiene?
I had an amazing hygienist as a child that always proved how much fun you could make the profession. While I was looking into different majors I had my routine cleaning and while there I remembered just how much I love to visit the dentist. Since then I have been working to be able to be the hygienist that makes visiting the dentist fun and be able to inspire our future generation of dental care providers.
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student?
I feel very blessed to be a first generation college student. I never expected to be able to pursue my dream career, let alone my dream career at the University of Minnesota. I was hesitant to even apply to the U of M because I never thought they would accept me since nobody in my family has a bachelor's degree. I was so proud to share with friends and family that I would be moving to the big city to follow my dreams. I take school very seriously because I know there are so many other people who are working hard to be in this program and I am dedicated to getting as much as I can out of this amazing opportunity.
What are you most proud of on your educational journey?
I'm most proud of my ability to push against the odds and make it here. My whole life, I never thought making it to college was an option for me, one because it was so expensive and two because nobody else in my family had made it to college before. I spent all of my childhood expecting to just find a low entry level job and to be working that same job forever like everyone else in my life. I started taking PSEO classes in high school because I qualified and I figured it was the closest I could ever get to experiencing my dream of college. I needed to rewrite the narrative for myself, I saw how unhappy people were around me and it motivated me to live my life for me. I strive to encourage others to take the risks and hard leaps to improve their future, it all will work out in the end. Everyone deserves to follow their dreams no matter how far out of reach they may feel.
Ashwani Chumber
PhD candidate in Oral Biology
Why did you choose oral biology?
As I was growing up, I saw the health disparity that caused lower-income people to deal with dental pain for much longer than those who had good dental insurance. Due to this, I originally was aiming towards being a dentist. I wanted to serve the underserved communities and make a difference in the lives of others. I was not okay with sitting back and allowing this disparity to continue. As I worked in a community clinic located in North Minneapolis, I quickly learned that the problem is not solely a problem of there not being enough dental healthcare professionals. Rather, there also are policy issues that further complicate the matter and do not always keep the patient's benefit as the primary focus. I strive to change that. This program has provided me the tools to conduct research in a lab setting as well as learn about policy changes and the ways that I can step into that role upon finishing my time here.
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student?
To be very honest and vulnerable, it means to get knocked down time and time again. I am working through something that no one in my family can provide advice or guidance on. Every single aspect of it is new to me and I am learning all of it for the first time, with very little room to make mistakes. It can be challenging and frustrating. However, this has taught me to be resilient. I learned how to get up and get back into things, stronger than before. I learned to never back down and to always stand up for myself. And now I do what I can to help other first-generation students so that their journey can be a little easier than mine was.
What are you most proud of on your educational journey?
I'm very proud of the connections I made and the way that I always upheld my integrity. I got to this point through my hard work and determination. I also had a lot of fun on the way! I was able to achieve two publications during my undergraduate education and I am most proud of my first publication which was on the topic of herbal extracts on augmenting uterine contractions!
Nicole Ivanova
DDS '27
Why did you choose dentistry?
I realized it would grant me the opportunity to make a difference in a community like the one I grew up in. Within my immigrant household the language barrier made access to healthcare difficult, and certain cultural beliefs prevented my parents from actively seeking oral care before it was too late. In my culture, pain is seen as part of life, and “strong people” can handle it. The older I got, the clearer it became that this cultural notion was shared among many other Bulgarian households within my community. Choosing dentistry has allowed me to have a greater purpose and it has proven to be more than just a career choice. This path has allowed me to feel capable and confident in solving an ongoing issue that remains prominent within my Bulgarian community. I am a firm believer that people can make better decisions, if knowledge is spread and an active effort is made to reframe current paradigms.
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student?
My parents sacrificed their livelihood and comfort when they came to this country to pursue a better future for my sake. Being a first-generation student has justified their sacrifice and all the hardships that were overcome along the way. It also shows that students, who may not come from families with higher education, should not be deterred or discouraged from pursuing a degree. Being a first-generation student means to break a cycle and to bring forth change that will improve lives on a scale that is bigger than just yourself.
What are you most proud of on your educational journey?
Out of thousands of bright applicants for the dental program, I am most proud and grateful that UMN chose my story to become part of the DDS class of 2027.
Robert Klabunde
DDS '22, Orthodontics resident
Why did you choose orthodontics?
I fell in love with orthodontics when I realized I could get out of school to go to my monthly adjustment appointment! Just kidding - orthodontics inspired me to pursue dentistry when I was younger and finished my orthodontic treatment. As I progressed through dental school, I lacked the feeling that I was making the dramatic change in lives that I was hoping for. I knew that orthodontics had the opportunity to have that effect, as it did for me, so I shifted my focus during dental school to specialize and I have never regretted my decision.
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student?
-To me, being a first-generation student means striving to accomplish things my previous generations didn't have the opportunity to do. Coming from a 4th generation farm family, my father managed the farm while my mother managed the local post office. There never would have been an opportunity for them to pursue an education for 10 years, but thanks to them, I will be completing my decade-long journey in education this June. I find having this educational opportunity is my way of making them proud.
What are you most proud of on your educational journey?
I am most proud of myself for committing to each and every step and never letting the process deter me from trying to achieve the next goal. I was hesitant to apply to dental school due to average GPA and DAT, but I managed to get a spot in the DDS class of 2022. I doubted my chances at getting into an orthodontic residency, and here I am, halfway through my second year. Even when I doubted myself, I have pushed through and have achieved every educational goal I have dreamed of.
Lindsey Koehler
DDS '25
Why did you choose dentistry?
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student?
What are you most proud of on your educational journey?
Clayton Lewandowski
DDS '26
Why did you choose dentistry?
I chose dentistry due to the opportunity it offers to work with my hands daily, coupled with the similarities it shares with my upbringing experiences. My father, a carpenter and self-taught mechanic, specializes in crafting custom cabinets and is a Swiss army knife, ready to fix anything that needs repair. On the other hand, my mother operates in a healthcare environment, serving as a licensed massage therapist and the owner of her own practice. I consider myself fortunate to have gained knowledge from both my parents about their respective fields, sparking my enthusiasm for aspects of each profession. I discovered that dentistry encompassed a perfect blend of attention to detail and hands-on work similar to cabinetry, the diagnostic and repair skills that engine mechanics possess, the understanding of anatomy and patient care found in massage therapy, and the expertise and dedication required for managing a small business.
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student?
Being a first-generation student holds significant meaning for me, as it comes with a strong sense of responsibility towards my family, friends, and community. It signifies the need for me to be a positive role model, not just within my family but also for the people in my small-town community. I believe it's my duty to demonstrate that with determination and hard work, anyone can achieve their dreams, whether they relate to education or other aspects of life, regardless of the challenges they might face. I am enthusiastic about using the knowledge I gain to contribute meaningfully to my community. Moreover, being a first-generation student is also about proving to myself that I deserve the opportunities I've been given and that I have the capability to succeed in my educational journey.
What are you most proud of on your educational journey?
I take great pride in my ability to maintain determination and motivation independently throughout my educational journey. I pursued my dream of becoming a dentist because I wanted it for myself, and I worked hard to turn that dream into a reality. As a first-generation student, I faced the challenge of lacking knowledge about the college experience and how to achieve my goal. Despite these unknowns, I am proud of how I navigated my undergraduate and professional education. I actively sought out information, built meaningful relationships, and successfully overcame obstacles to reach this point in my journey. This resilience and proactive approach have been instrumental in my achievements, and I am proud of the progress I've made.
Nora Willkomm
DDS/PhD '26
