Having grown up in Minneapolis, Fathia Warsame always envisioned herself following in her older siblings’ footsteps by getting a college education at the University of Minnesota. Today she’s close to achieving her goal, thanks in part to support from the President’s Emerging Scholars (PES) program.
Launched in 2013, PES is a student success program committed to guiding and supporting select University of Minnesota students in pursuit of their bachelor’s degrees. PES works to counter the structural and environmental forces that unevenly burden first-generation college students, students from poor and working-class backgrounds, and other underrepresented groups.
The more than 2,000 PES participants have access to individualized advising, peer mentoring, scholarships, and courses and events where they make lifelong friends and build the skills they need for academic and career success.
Now set to graduate in May 2025, Warsame reflects on her undergraduate experiences and the impact the PES program has had on her life
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of being a President’s Emerging Scholar?
A: It’s being a peer mentor. I get the chance to give back to students in the way that my own peer mentor has provided for me. It’s safe to say that I wouldn’t be in the major I am in (health services/care management) without my peer mentor who helped me find it. It brings me so much satisfaction knowing I can help other students like me.
Q: How has your scholarship support enabled you to pursue interesting opportunities?
A: In fall 2024, I had the opportunity to intern at the National Health Service at King’s College and study abroad in London. I can positively say that this would not have been possible without the moral and financial support from PES. To have the opportunity to represent the U and build valuable skills in cultural bridging has been so meaningful to my career and development.
Q: How has the PES community contributed to your personal growth?
A: Because of the community and scholarship support from PES, I was able to live out a dream of seeing Europe. While I studied and interned in London, I was able to get connected to other global opportunities and visit countries in the surrounding area. My internship helped me broaden my horizons of engagement opportunities, removing bias and further unlearning and relearning with hands-on experience.
PES is truly a built-in family on campus. The PES lounge in Appleby Hall is a second home to me. This space has allowed me to connect with mentors, friends, and peers. Because of this, I have been able to build a huge community on campus, with fellow PES students being some of the first friends I made here.
Q: Why is a program like PES important to students at the U of M?
A: Honestly, I can think of a million reasons, especially for first-generation college students like me who may not understand the ins and outs of college life and all of the resources available to them. PES is truly a community of care and support for those students, helping them develop skills to successfully navigate college.
Q: What are your plans or aspirations upon graduating from the U of M?
A: My hope is to apply to the Healthcare Administration Master’s Program here at the U. I hope to marry the ideas of quality and patient safety with health care equity and access. Eventually, I plan to get involved in health care equity work in the Minneapolis community.
Q: What would you say to potential donors about the long-term impact of their support?
A: Investing in someone having an experience can be truly transformative, as it was for me. The skills that I developed in my internship abroad will stay with me far beyond graduation in my personal life and professional career.
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