Joshua Burns

Florida State University master’s student Joshua Burns chose to pursue a graduate degree in higher education because of the impact faculty and staff had on him as a first-generation, lower-income student from a rural background.

He has a passion for serving underrepresented student populations in higher education.

Why did you decide to attend FSU?

When I was looking at options for graduate school, I instantly connected with the academic and research environment that FSU had to offer. Through the visiting days process, I obtained a graduate assistantship in the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement. This assistantship exposed and continues to show me how students can find many opportunities that align with any academic discipline or explore how interdisciplinary research exists among several projects and labs. In addition, the University’s College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences higher education program made me feel like I was part of a genuine community, so I know FSU was the right fit for me.  

How has being part of a joint Scholars Program between Florida A&M University and Florida State University influenced your perspective on educational research and social justice?

My experience in the FAMU-FSU Partners United for Research Pathways Oriented to Social Justice in Education (PURPOSE) Scholars program during 2023 was one of the most academically enriching experiences as a college student. In a year, I grew my research skills, but more importantly, realized the importance of humanity in the research process. Being part of a cohort of FAMU and FSU undergraduate and graduate students, we had important conversations about educational research’s role in expanding access for all student populations and advancing social justice. Ultimately, we presented our research at the PURPOSE poster presentation conference in December. The sense of accomplishment I gained from this presentation was unmatched, as faculty, staff and students from both institutions were in attendance.   

Can you share more about what inspired your research?

I have been involved with two formal research projects while at FSU. First, I am the lead researcher on my research project “Caring More for Our First-Year, First-Generation, and Low-Income Students: Perceptions of Barriers and Transitional Success.” As a first-generation and low-income (FGLI) student myself, this project’s purpose is to listen to the voices, experiences and perceptions of other FGLI students at FSU, while using rich data from interviews to inform administrators, staff and faculty on how they can provide better support systems and services to these students.   

I am also one of the research assistants on the Helios-Acceleration research project with Toby Park-Gaghan, professor of Education Policy, Christine Mokher, professor of Higher Education and Cameron Beatty, associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS) in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. This project’s purpose is to gain a better understanding of the academic and social experiences of advanced students. 

Can you describe your experience volunteering with the Tallahassee Future Leaders Academy (TFLA) and how it aligns with your passion for supporting high school students?

During the summer of 2023, I volunteered and engaged in community service with the Tallahassee Future Leaders Academy (TFLA). As someone passionate about supporting high school students in their post-secondary preparation and leadership development, this was a great opportunity to meet those passions while getting further connected to the Tallahassee and Leon County communities. More specifically, I worked with a smaller group of students from TFLA, who served as peer leaders. With them, I facilitated a weekly leadership book discussion. 

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