TRiO's Eduardo Galeana fights for first-generation students, something he experienced first-hand throughout his journey.
By Kaia Mann, staff writer
Eduardo Galeano, head of TRIO, sitting calmly at his desk as his portrait is being shot at Los Angeles Valley College in Los Angeles on November 29th, 2023. (Andrew Gonzalez | Valley Star)
As rain pours down in normally sunny California, Eduardo Galeana opens up his office, expressing his excitement and anxiety. The director of the TRiO program is usually the one asking the questions.
Galeana, a first-generation college graduate, advocates for students with similar origins. In the nine years of working for the Los Angeles Community College District, the Los Angeles native has worked his way up, now overseeing the three programs that makeup TRiO.
“Having been first-gen and now being where I am today, instills this greater sense of duty and commitment to working with our first-gen population on campus, but really every student,” Galeana said.
Galeana stresses the importance of collaborating with other campus organizations, ensuring first-gen students have all the resources they need. If TRiO is not able to help students who come in, Galeana makes sure they are directed to someone on campus who can..
Being a first-gen student, but also a person of color and part of the LGBTQIA+ community, Galeana has a desire to give back to students like himself. His goal is to make TRiO a home away from home for anyone in need.
“First-gen is just one part of a large intersection for a lot of students,” said Galeana. “We want to make sure our students feel seen, heard, and valued.”
The 36-year-old graduated from East Los Angeles College and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from San Francisco State University and a master's degree in education from UCLA.
While maneuvering through higher education, Galeana found importance in self-advocacy, asking for what you need, when you need it. Making sure that students hear that sentiment is half the battle. Making that first step through the door is a whole other fight, and this is where TRiO comes in.
TRiO, on the second floor of the student's services plaza, is a combination of the Support Services Program, Upward Bound, and Upward Bound Math & Science. They aim to support and uplift first-generation, low-income, and disabled students.
As TRiO continues to offer workshops, college tours, and enrichment activities for their students, Galeana hopes to increase greater campus awareness of TRiO programs and continue his journey in advocating, not only for himself but for every student on campus who needs it.
“Part of my journey as a first-gen student was coming out of my shell and asking for things that I wanted,” said Galeana. “ I learned the value of making sure I wouldn't be afraid to ask for things that I needed to ask for.”