National Transfer Student Spotlight: Alanna Grace-Marie Schwartz

National Transfer Student Week (NTSW) takes place October 19-23. Organized by the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students, this is a nationwide movement that celebrates transfer students and the supporters who champion their success. The week is designed to empower campuses across the country to create more welcoming spaces where transfer students do more than just arrive – they thrive.

HFC alumna Alanna Grace-Marie Schwartz planned to major in art when she first came to the College.

That changed when she joined the Dr. Henry J. Bowers Focus Group and met HFC sociology instructor Dr. Kalvin DaRonne Harvell, who’s had a profound effect on her.

"HFC is where I found my passion for sociology. This is the place where I found the community I needed to succeed and jumpstart my academic career," said Schwartz, of Dearborn. "Dr. Harvell is the reason I am a sociologist. He showed me a whole new world in which I finally could find answers to all my questions about life and society. Chardin Claybourne is another coordinator of the Bowers Focus Group who has been supporting me since the beginning through my involvement in the Henry Ford II Honors Program and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Dr. Courtney Matthews [another Focus Group coordinator] is an amazing professor and leader who made my community college experience so incredibly rich. Their leadership is unmatched. They are the people who helped me become successful. They showed me my potential and the ways I could grow. I had never considered attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, because no one ever told me I could. They showed me I could! And they helped me every step of the way."

Received more than $100,000 in scholarships and fellowships

Born in Trenton, Schwartz is the eldest of seven. She graduated from Lincoln Park High School with honors. She earned her associate degree in liberal arts with a focus in sociology from HFC. Transferring to U-M, she earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in intergroup relations. She attended U-M through the Transfer Bridges to Michigan (TB2M) program and was a member of the U-M Mellon Scholars Research Fellowship program. During her time at U-M, Schwartz earned more than $100,000 in fellowship and scholarship rewards.

"Transferring was easy because of the TB2M program and everyone who supported me," she said. "Most of my support came from HFC leaders, particularly the Bowers Focus Group advisors, and the transfer folks at U-M. They helped me solve every problem I had."

Schwartz believes that HFC students who want to transfer to U-M need to get involved with TB2M.

"The TB2M program is so important. They have so many resources that will help elevate anyone looking to further their education," she said. "I was a mentee in the TB2M program. I had a mentor who transferred to U-M, and she helped me prepare for my transfer into the university. Once I completed the process, I became a Transfer Ambassador and mentor for the same program for three years."

HFC helped her define her work and study habits

During her time at U-M, Schwartz was a member of the Sociology Opportunities for Undergraduate Leaders (SOUL). Through SOUL, she completed her first research fellowship project, helping improve resources for first-generation families of college students. As a TB2M Ambassador, she hosted a trivia contest for "The History of Black History Month" aMplify Night. Winners were awarded copies of the March graphic novel about the 1963 March on Washington, written by the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis.

"My involvement with the Program on Intergroup Relations is relevant, as I was a peer facilitator during my last semester," she said. "It’s an honor to say I taught a class at U-M at 25!"

Schwartz is proud of all she accomplished at U-M, regardless of how big or small. But she repeatedly directs the credit for her achievements to her time at HFC.

"HFC helped me define my work habits and study skills, as well as my passions," she explained. "I switched from art to sociology, and I still completed so many art projects pertaining to my sociological studies at U-M. The ability to experiment with what I learned at HFC was phenomenal. With most of the core classes out of the way, thanks to the affordable tuition at HFC, I was able to explore so much at U-M."

Admittedly, it took Schwartz some time to adjust to U-M.

"The culture was my biggest adjustment. Living and studying in Ann Arbor is a highly unique experience, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I was handling culture shock while navigating the world mostly on my own for the first time," she explained. "University culture is different from what you experience at a community college, but there are always positives when it comes to differences. Over time, I learned how to pave my own path. I became eager to build more relationships to broaden my horizons."

HFC experience was foundational to her career as an educator

Today, Schwartz is working as a substitute teacher. She plans to enroll in graduate school within the next year and eventually become a sociology professor.

"My student experience at HFC is foundational to my current career as an educator," she said. "Looking back, HFC gave me a humble start. People met me where I was, gave me what I needed, and now I am flourishing! I am proud to continue working with HFC and U-M to promote education. I still do events and lectures at both educational institutions."

She spoke about how her experience as a transfer student shaped her.

"Being a transfer student is a unique experience that gives you a lot of skills that are highly transferable," she said. "We are problem solvers, explorers, fighters, lovers, and truly authentic human beings. My transfer experience was a very important time in my life that set me up for success in my academic career."