Paying It Forward: Brianna Fulp (Undergraduate Career Coach and Belongingness Coordinator)

Brianna Fulp (Undergraduate Career Coach and Belongingness Coordinator) knows firsthand what it's like navigating college as an underrepresented student and the impact a good advisor can have.

When Fulp began as a first-generation college student at Lycoming College in Williamsport Pennsylvania, she didn’t have a strong sense of direction. It was Fulp’s career and academic advisor who helped Fulp understand her opportunities and potential.

“My advisor was my number one supporter even when I didn’t believe in myself,” says Fulp. “Getting to graduation wouldn’t have been possible if I didn’t have such a great support system.”

After completing an undergraduate degree in business administration and a master’s degree in educational leadership, Fulp felt excited to provide students at the Eller College of Management with the same exemplary support she received. In her role as a career coach, Fulp loves learning the diverse stories of her students and serving as representation for those students who don’t encounter many staff who look like them.

“I’ve had many students of color come up to me and say, ‘You know, it’s really great that you’re here and that I can see you here.’,” says Fulp.

As a biracial woman, Fulp has struggled with prejudice her entire life. Experiencing frequent judgment from people who knew nothing about her helped motivate Fulp to combat the ignorance that leads to such behavior.

“I’ve dealt with a lot of racism and discrimination,” says Fulp. “I don’t want other people to feel like that.”

Fulp’s passion for spreading knowledge was a driving force behind the bias awareness lesson she developed with Veronica Atondo for the course Fulp coordinates, BNAD 200: Career Management in Business. After piloting the lesson in the spring 2022 course, Fulp and Atondo presented on the lesson at the Arizona Statewide Career Services Conference in June 2022.

To prepare for implementing the bias awareness lesson in all 26 sections of BNAD 200 in fall 2022, Fulp is training the section instructors to comfortably and effectively provide the lesson in their respective sections. She says despite her “belongingness coordinator” title, diversity and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility.

“It’s never going to be something that is better in society until everybody recognizes the importance and why it's needed and why they need to be contributing just as much as everyone else,” says Fulp.

To continue increasing her knowledge and expanding her impact, Fulp is preparing to apply for doctorate of education programs and intends to one day become a dean.

“There’s always going to be something that I don’t know, or something I could better understand to make me more effective,” says Fulp. “I consider myself a lifelong learner.”