La'tonya Rease Miles

I’m La'Tonya "LT" Rease Miles, and my passion lies in building communities and creating spaces where first-gen and underrepresented students can thrive. As the founder of numerous initiatives—including first-gen programs at both UCLA and Loyola Marymount University, which have become national Best Practices models—I focus on driving meaningful change in higher education. I co-founded the Black First-Gen Collective and the largest Facebook group dedicated to the first-generation college experience.

A first-gen college graduate myself, I earned my Ph.D. in American literature from UCLA. Beyond education, I have a deep appreciation for pop culture and sports, always looking for the next big story or moment to engage with. My goal is to keep building and sharing narratives that matter.