Williams Firsts Student Union

We are a group of annually elected Firsts students representatives committed to enhancing your experience at Williams through thoughtful programming and advocacy. We welcome your feedback and would love to connect with you!

Name: Emily Kondo, FSU Co-Chair
Pronouns: she/her/hers 
Class Year: 2023
Major: Biology and East Asian Languages and Cultures 
Hometown: Waipahu, Hawaii
Campus Activities: FSU, Science Fellows at Williamstown Elementary School, After School Tutoring at Mt. Greylock, Biology Thesis Research, and Matriculate College advising.
How I’m a First: I will be the first in my family to graduate with a four year degree and the first to travel away this far for college.

 

Name: Shirley Lin, FSU Co-Chair 
Pronouns: she/her/hers 
Class Year: 2023 
Major: Economics and Chinese 
Hometown: Flushing, NY 
Campus Activities: Firsts Student Board, Margins Finance Club, Women in Business
How I’m a First: I’m a first-generation Chinese-American, first-generation college student, first in my family to have U.S. citizenship 

 

Hi! My name is Kenneth Chiu (he/him) and I am proud to be your Class of 2023 rep this year! I’m a double major in economics and political science from Memphis, GN. Outside Firsts Student Union, I’m involved in clubs such as Alhambra Consulting Group, Club Squash, and the Chinese American Student Organization (CASO). I also work part-time as an Admissions Ambassador, helping the college prepare for WoW fly-ins and Previews. I am first because I am the first in my family to attend school in the US and also the first to attend college!
Name: Kenneth Chiu
Pronouns: He/Him 
Class Year: 2023
Major: Double major in economics and political science 
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Campus Activities: Alhambra Consulting Group, Club Squash, and the Chinese American Student Organization (CASO). I also work part-time as an Admissions Ambassador, helping the college prepare for WoW fly-ins and Previews.
How I’m a First: I am first because I am the first in my family to attend school in the US and also the first to attend college!

 

Name: Brandon Corrales
Pronouns: he/him
Class Year: 2024
Major: American Studies & Sociology
Hometown: Fairfield, CT
Campus activities: VISTA (The Latine/x Student Organization); Firsts Student Union; Transfer Student Union; Committee on Diversity & Community
How I’m first: I am a first-generation college student.

 

Name: Camily Hidalgo Gonçalves
Pronouns: she/her
Class Year: 2026
Major: Chemistry with a Neuroscience concentration
Hometown: Ciudad del Este, Paraguay
Campus activities: Makerspace student worker, Ephoria Acapella, Vive, VISTA, ISA, and FSU board.
How I’m first: I am a first-generation international student.

 

Name: Lamia Haque 
Pronouns: she/her
Class year: 2025
Major: English and Economics
Hometown: Queens, NY
Campus Activities: FSU, Residential Life Team, Admissions Tour Guide, The Record
How I’m First: I am a First because I am the first in my family to go to a four year college.

 

Name: Karen Liu 
Pronouns: she/her
Class year: 2025
Major: Economics and History
Hometown: Queens, NY
Campus Activities: FSU, Alhambra Consulting Group, Blades of Williams
How I’m First: I am a first because I am the first in my family to go to college, go to a private institution, and receive a college degree.

 

Name: Hector Mendoza (he/him)
Class year: 2024
Major: Astrophysics
From: Boston, MA
Involved in: FSU, research assistant, astronomy TA, Robotics Club
I am the first in my family, both nuclear and extended, to receive a college degree. My parents immigrated from Mexico, so I am also the first in the family to attend college outside of Mexico.

 

Hi, my name is Sarah (she/her/hers) and I’m an at-large rep on the FSU board! I’m a senior, sociology major, and I’m from Minneapolis, Minnesota. My main involvements on campus are the FSU board and Gospel Choir. I am a First in multiple ways! I’m the first person in my immediate family to attend a 4-year university, and I will hopefully be the first in my family to graduate college this spring. I’m also the first in my family to travel far away to attend college, as both my parents took classes at the local community college, and lastly, I am the first student from my high school to attend Williams!
Name: Sarah Nelson  
Pronouns: she/her/hers 
Class Year: 2023 
Major: Sociology
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota 
Campus Activities: FSU board and Gospel Choir
How I’m a First: I am a First in multiple ways! I’m the first person in my immediate family to attend a 4-year university, and I will hopefully be the first in my family to graduate college this spring. I’m also the first in my family to travel far away to attend college, as both my parents took classes at the local community college, and lastly, I am the first student from my high school to attend Williams!

 

Heya! I’m Emily Salinas Romero, she/her, and your At-Large rep on the FSU board! I’m a sophomore from Sarasota, Florida, studying Computer Science and Japanese. My main activities so far are FSU and table tennis. I’m the first to be born in the States, since my family is from Mexico and Peru and I’m a first generation post-secondary/college student! 

Name: Emily Salinas Romero
Pronouns: she/her/hers 
Class Year: 2025 
Major: Computer Science and Japanese
Hometown: Sarasota, Florida 
Campus Activities: FSU and Table Tennis
How I’m a First: I’m the first to be born in the States, since my family is from Mexico and Peru and I’m a first generation post-secondary/college student! 

 

Hi everyone, my name is Khedija Shafi, my pronouns are she/her, and I am originally from Ethiopia but moved to Los Angeles in high school. I am a first-year student planning to major in chemistry with a public health concentration in the pre-med track. I am involved in Sisterhood, Black Student Union, Muslim Student Union, and B-Stem alongside FSU. I am a first-generation student and the first in my high school and community to attend a school like Willliams. 

Name: Khedija Shafi  
Pronouns: she/her/hers 
Class Year: 2026
Major: Chemistry with a Public Health concentration; pre-med track 
Hometown: Originally from Ethiopia but moved to Los Angeles in high school
Campus Activities: Sisterhood, Black Student Union, Muslim Student Union, and B-Stem alongside FSU
How I’m a First: I am a first-generation student and the first in my high school and community to attend a school like Willliams.