51视频

02/28/2025
By Ed Brennen

Since graduating from 51视频 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English, Venus Israni鈥檚 higher education career has taken her to Boston University, Harvard, Princeton, Boston College and, most recently, Tufts.

And now it has come full circle, with Israni returning to her alma mater to become program director of the River Hawk Scholars Academy (RHSA), UML鈥檚 support program for first-generation college students.

鈥淚t feels very special to be back,鈥� says Israni, a Lowell native. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to see how much the university has changed and evolved since I was a student.鈥�

One of those changes is the creation of the RHSA, which launched in 2017. More than 40% of UML students identify as first-generation, and the RHSA supports them inside and outside the classroom with programs such as First to Launch, Roads to Research and Pathways to Career.

Although she was not a first-generation college student herself, Israni understands the twists and turns of navigating college life.聽

鈥淚 worked while I was in school, and I faced a number of challenges related to finding my way through college, as many of our students do,鈥� says Israni, who chose UML because it was affordable and close to home 鈥� while providing strong programs and support networks.

Since starting the job in January, Israni has been amazed to reunite with so many of her former English professors, including Bridget Marshall, Keith Mitchell and Todd Avery.

鈥淭o be back after all this time and have faculty remember you, it鈥檚 really heartwarming and special,鈥� Israni says. 鈥淚鈥檝e been able to go out into the world and have these great experiences because of, in large part, the mentorship that I received here at 51视频.鈥�

Israni, who earned a master鈥檚 degree in higher education administration from BU and a doctorate from BC, sat down to discuss her goals for the RHSA.

What inspired you to take on this role, and how does your background prepare you to lead the RHSA?

So much of my work has focused on bridging scholarship with educational practice. I have thought a lot about the different ways that students from different backgrounds interact with and experience different support structures 鈥� both formal, like faculty advising, tutoring and career support, but also informal, like peer mentoring, study groups, exam preparation and social support outside of class. During my doctoral studies, I examined the impact of peer mentoring and various institutional support structures on the overall experience of students with intersecting identities. When I first saw the program director role, I was so excited to be able to draw on this background. The River Hawk Scholars Academy is a great example of drawing on evidence-based practices to really make an impact. The overall design with various levels of support is truly exciting to be part of.聽聽

What aspects of the RHSA do you see as its greatest strengths, and how do you plan to build on them?

To me, it鈥檚 looking at all the programs offered in their totality and the effect they can have on students. It鈥檚 very holistic and ranges from ensuring they have a strong circle of support during their first year to providing them with research opportunities and mentoring to help open up their minds to new opportunities and aiding their development as future leaders. I would hope to partner with and learn from the many individuals who have made RHSA what it is today, including the students we serve, to think about ways to expand our reach and really evaluate the impact of our efforts.

What new initiatives or enhancements are you considering to expand academic, research and career opportunities for RHSA students?

One thing that I鈥檓 thinking about is the ways in which a student鈥檚 academic discipline can inform how they experience college and access different types of support. For example, are there certain needs for students in the health sciences that are more nuanced and specific when compared to business students? Also, what are the other aspects of a student鈥檚 identity that can inform their college journey? How can we align our programs to students and be able to validate the different ways that they move through college 鈥� and more broadly, life? Can we explore partnerships with others on campus who are doing great work to support various aspects of a student?

What impact do you hope the RHSA will have on students by the time they graduate?

My hope is that our office will be a positive and consistent through line for students at each unique phase they find themselves in, from their transition into 51视频, throughout their academic career here, with the aim of preparing them to be successful after they graduate.