First-Generation Scholar and Advocate Finds Her Voice at UA Little Rock
When Theresa Okon started graduate school, she was afraid to raise her hand in class. Today, she’s preparing to begin a Ph.D. and leading a nonprofit.
Okon, originally from Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, always had a passion for advocacy, but her time at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock gave her the tools to express herself and put her dreams into action. Through hands-on learning and her involvement in student government, she found the confidence to speak up — not only for herself, but for the communities she hopes to serve.
On Dec. 13, Okon will graduate with her master’s degree in mass communication, marking a milestone not just for her but for her entire family. As the first among her siblings to attend graduate school, she sees this achievement as a source of pride. “My parents didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so getting this degree is a dream come true for me,” Okon said. “It brings me so much joy to be a role model for my siblings and show them that if I can do it, they can too.”
Okon holds undergraduate degrees in mass communication and theatre arts, and she says UA Little Rock stood out during her graduate school search because of its hands-on learning environment. She was awarded a graduate assistantship with the School of Mass Communication, as well as the Dan and Johnnie Winn Memorial Scholarship, to fund her studies. “My department saw potential in me,” she said. “The scholarships were competitive, and I’m grateful I was chosen.”
On campus, Okon says one of the most transformative experiences was serving as a senator in the Student Government Association. The role allowed her to connect with people from different backgrounds and contribute to the success of her fellow students. She says that without this experience, she wouldn’t have been able to start her own nonprofit, Cedar and Ruby Health Alliance.
“Being a senator in the Student Government Association opened my eyes to establishing something for underserved communities,” Okon said. “Helping students on campus made me think about how I could help people in the U.S. and Nigeria as well. That’s when I came up with my idea for a nonprofit to foster care for people with cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as to teach life-saving emergency response skills.”
Despite her academic success, Okon’s most personal achievement is the book she wrote during her time at UA Little Rock, Finding Healing Through Self-Acceptance. The project grew from her own journey through childhood rejection, trauma, and years of struggling with anxiety and low self-esteem.
Writing became a path toward healing, and she hopes her story will help others find strength within themselves. “Healing isn’t something someone can give you — you discover it inside yourself,” she said. “If someone reads my book and finds hope, that will help me heal too.” Okon is currently finalizing the manuscript and awaiting a foreword from a faculty mentor before seeking a publisher.
After graduation, Okon will continue her academic journey by pursuing a Ph.D. in criminal justice at Rutgers University.
Her message to other first-generation students is simple but powerful: “It won’t be easy, but don’t let your background define you. Success starts in your own mind. Just focus on what got you here and the success in your future, and you will definitely succeed.”