Kobi V. Ajayi
Founder
PhD student, Department of Health and Kinesiology
First generation college student, Mother of two beautiful 4-and-3-year old girls, Nigerian
Email: [email protected], Follow me on LinkedIn
In 2019, while pursuing my Master’s degree, I felt isolated and wanted to connect with other parenting students like myself. Unfortunately, there weren’t any of such organizations on campus. Ultimately, I created APPSO because of my desire to connect with and longing for a community. I have served as the President of APPSO from 2019 and 2021 and am proud of APPSOs accomplishments since 2019. I am even more honored to still be a part of this organization supporting other pregnant and/or parenting students at Texas A&M. It is my desire that every parenting/pregnant student achieve ultimate success beyond the classroom.
Founder
PhD student, Department of Health and Kinesiology
First generation college student, Mother of two beautiful 4-and-3-year old girls, Nigerian
Email: [email protected], Follow me on LinkedIn
In 2019, while pursuing my Master’s degree, I felt isolated and wanted to connect with other parenting students like myself. Unfortunately, there weren’t any of such organizations on campus. Ultimately, I created APPSO because of my desire to connect with and longing for a community. I have served as the President of APPSO from 2019 and 2021 and am proud of APPSOs accomplishments since 2019. I am even more honored to still be a part of this organization supporting other pregnant and/or parenting students at Texas A&M. It is my desire that every parenting/pregnant student achieve ultimate success beyond the classroom.
Miriam Morua Catalan, she/her
President
PhD Candidate, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
First generation college student, Mother of a beautiful 3-year old girl, LATINA, CA native
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @MoruaCatalan
Pursuing a doctoral program while simultaneously figuring out parenthood has been one of the most difficult challenges in my life, especially during unprecedented times. I became a member of APPSO when I first started my program in Fall 2019 to find other student-parents that might support me through my journey and help me balance family-work life. APPSO has offered many opportunities for students like myself through workshops focused on mental health, financial budgeting, and other opportunities catered towards the academic success of student-parent’s. As the president of this organization, I am passionate about curating an environment of support that enables students to feel comfortable sharing their experiences and foster long term friendships.
President
PhD Candidate, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
First generation college student, Mother of a beautiful 3-year old girl, LATINA, CA native
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @MoruaCatalan
Pursuing a doctoral program while simultaneously figuring out parenthood has been one of the most difficult challenges in my life, especially during unprecedented times. I became a member of APPSO when I first started my program in Fall 2019 to find other student-parents that might support me through my journey and help me balance family-work life. APPSO has offered many opportunities for students like myself through workshops focused on mental health, financial budgeting, and other opportunities catered towards the academic success of student-parent’s. As the president of this organization, I am passionate about curating an environment of support that enables students to feel comfortable sharing their experiences and foster long term friendships.
Mayra N. Mendoza Cerna
Vice President
PhD Student, Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences
First generation college student, Mother of an awesome 1-year old boy, Peruvian
Email: [email protected], Check out my Google Scholar page
Since I decided to be a mother I felt a little afraid of leaving my career aside but I did not let myself be carried away by fear and decided to start my PhD studies in Fall 2021, thanks to the immeasurable support of my family, now I am here, abroad and raising a son, at the same time that I keep pursuing my personal goals, but I know that I can give even more, so I am very happy to be part of APPSO whose members share the same chaotic and beautiful path of being student parents. As Vice-President I want to support this beautiful community and help to set and achieve the goals of this organization.
Vice President
PhD Student, Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences
First generation college student, Mother of an awesome 1-year old boy, Peruvian
Email: [email protected], Check out my Google Scholar page
Since I decided to be a mother I felt a little afraid of leaving my career aside but I did not let myself be carried away by fear and decided to start my PhD studies in Fall 2021, thanks to the immeasurable support of my family, now I am here, abroad and raising a son, at the same time that I keep pursuing my personal goals, but I know that I can give even more, so I am very happy to be part of APPSO whose members share the same chaotic and beautiful path of being student parents. As Vice-President I want to support this beautiful community and help to set and achieve the goals of this organization.
Secretary
Judith Abigail Tijerina
Social Media Coordinator
Undergraduate student, Environmental Geoscience major, Double Minor in Oceanography and Park & Natural Resource Management
Mother of a joyous 3-year old boy and cheerful 1-year old girl, Hispanic, RGV native
Email: [email protected]
Going through pregnancy while being a working student was the most physically and mentally demanding time in my academic career. After having my son in the spring of 2020, I became a member of APPSO that fall with the hope of finding other students that could relate to the challenges of balancing parenthood and school life. Since then I have found safety and comfort in my time with this organization as a first time parent during a pandemic. Continuing on, I hope to provide a safe haven for other parenting and pregnant students at Texas A&M and build friendships that last a lifetime.
Social Media Coordinator
Undergraduate student, Environmental Geoscience major, Double Minor in Oceanography and Park & Natural Resource Management
Mother of a joyous 3-year old boy and cheerful 1-year old girl, Hispanic, RGV native
Email: [email protected]
Going through pregnancy while being a working student was the most physically and mentally demanding time in my academic career. After having my son in the spring of 2020, I became a member of APPSO that fall with the hope of finding other students that could relate to the challenges of balancing parenthood and school life. Since then I have found safety and comfort in my time with this organization as a first time parent during a pandemic. Continuing on, I hope to provide a safe haven for other parenting and pregnant students at Texas A&M and build friendships that last a lifetime.
Outreach and Recruitment
Donovan Davis
Treasurer
PhD Student, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
First generation graduate student, father of one, and a Tennessee native.
Email: [email protected]
I joined APPSO in the Fall of 2022 when my wife and I were expecting our first child. Throughout the semester, APPSO helped me to discover the resources available to student-parents, as well as introduced me to a supportive community of like-minded students who seek to balance the rigors of academia with the foremost responsibilities of parenthood. I became treasurer of the organization in the spring of 2023. I seek to expand the reach of the organization and encourage every student-parent to join APPSO and strengthen our network.
Treasurer
PhD Student, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
First generation graduate student, father of one, and a Tennessee native.
Email: [email protected]
I joined APPSO in the Fall of 2022 when my wife and I were expecting our first child. Throughout the semester, APPSO helped me to discover the resources available to student-parents, as well as introduced me to a supportive community of like-minded students who seek to balance the rigors of academia with the foremost responsibilities of parenthood. I became treasurer of the organization in the spring of 2023. I seek to expand the reach of the organization and encourage every student-parent to join APPSO and strengthen our network.
Dr. Jessica E. Light
Faculty Advisor
Associate Professor and Curator of Mammals
Mother of 2
Faculty Advisor
Associate Professor and Curator of Mammals
Mother of 2