Sampson Chinonso Ipiankama

A little life update In August, I began my PhD in Human Development & Family Sciences (HDFS) at the University of Connecticut (UConn). UConn is an R1 university, a designation granted by the Carnegie Foundation and held by only about 3% of U.S. universities, 1/5

🌍 CaPTC Celebrates Professor Popoola: A Landmark Achievement in Global Cancer Research 🏆 The #CaPTC proudly celebrates Professor Popoola on the official registration of the **iCCaRE Nigeria Clinical Trial** on *ClinicalTrials.gov* (NCT07598032)—a major step for forward

Deeply grateful to Prof. Tania B. Huedo-Medina, Prof. Tricia Leahey, Prof. Aviana Rosen, Ane Yllera, Eider Egaña, and the full Meta-ONKO team for their mentorship and trust this semester. This is just the beginning. 5/5

A few things I am taking from this experience: → Screening requires real scientific judgment → Systematic review is team science → Scale changes how you see a field 4/5

This semester, I had the privilege of joining the Cancer & Well-Being Project, an international research collaboration between the @UConn and the University of the Basque Country, Spain, through the course, AH 6181 under the guidance of my advisor Keith Bellizzi. 1/5

What does it mean to be resilient? The trait is highly valued but largely misunderstood, according to Keith M. Bellizzi, who's studied resilience for over two decades. He shares his definition of the term and five practices for building it below. flip.it/jgMYjM

Imposter syndrome is a sign that you are standing in a place you once only dreamed of. I was standing in that place. 5/5

I closed with something I believe: thriving is not what happens after the struggle ends. It happens inside of it. I will leave you with the words of my advisor Dr. Keith Bellizzi from his book Falling Forward. 4/5

#TBT Five days ago, April 18th, I presented at UConn's first-ever First Gen Summit. My session was titled "The Weight I Carry: Identity, Belonging, and the Real Work of Thriving in Graduate School." My first public talk outside Nigeria. 1/5

There are programs, people, and resources built specifically for you. Start here: firstgen.uconn.edu #FirstGen Forward #UConn #HigherEducation 7/7

2)Relationships matter. 3) You do not have to do it alone. 4) Opportunities do not come to you, you step into them. 5) You belong - confidence comes after action. Not before it. If you are a first gen student at University of Connecticut, you are not alone. 6/7

this. Just say yes and go ahead and see what happens." And Leo Lachut, who has worked at University of Connecticut for nearly 30 years and has built over 30 first gen programs across campus, shared five rules for succeeding at university as a first gen student. 1) Ask early. 5/7

We also heard from Pavan Bolla, a first gen UConn graduate now working as an AI agent specialist. He closed his session with this on the screen, "One opportunity can change everything." Then he said, "Every opportunity that came to me, I was not ready for any of them, even 4/7

"Being first gen is not a deficit. It is a strength." — Dr. Fany DeJesús Hannon, Ed.D. University of Connecticut has been a First Gen Forward institution since 2020, recognized for its work supporting first gen student recruitment, retention, and graduation. 1/7

myself." Then she told us about arriving in the United States not speaking English, sitting in a classroom at Miami Dade Community College, and eventually earning a full ride to Smith College. Not despite being first gen. Because of everything being first gen built in her. 3/7

Yesterday April 18th, UConn held its first ever First Gen Summit. I was in the room.The keynote was delivered by Dr. Fany DeJesús Hannon, Ed.D., Dean of Students at UConn. She opened by having every person say out loud: "I am a first generation college student, and I love 2/7

Congratulations to Taylor, Lauryn, Kayanna, Emily, and Victoria. 5/5

immigrant families and showed why the gaps cause real harm. I have been their Teaching Assistant in HDFS 4097H Honors Seminar under Dr. Caitlin Lombardi for two semesters. Listening to them talk about their research today made me super proud. 4/5

How does a Black girl understand her own girlhood? What do kids in elementary school actually need? Does a state even have a plan for foster youth who age out? Yesterday at UConn's Frontiers in Undergraduate Research poster exhibitions 2026, five UConn HDFS Honors students 1/5