UTSA Athletics is a national leader in supporting first-generation student-athletes. Throughout the 2025-26 school year, GoUTSA.com will spotlight the department’s first-generation student-athletes, coaches, administrators and staff.
Alexandria Gulotta recently joined the UTSA Athletics staff as an Athletics Academic Coordinator, working with the men’s basketball and track & field teams.
She is a first-generation college graduate of Saint Mary’s (Ind.) College and earned her master’s degree from Boston College.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a first-generation college graduate?
Alexandria Gulotta: “Being a first-generation college graduate means opportunity. Having not only my bachelor’s, but my master’s has opened so many opportunities that I never would have found or qualified for without gaining my degrees.”
Q: How is attending college as a first-generation student a unique experience?
Alexandria Gulotta: “In my experience, being a first-generation college student means everything is new in a way that’s a bit hard to describe. And it's a part of your life that your parents may not understand, as much as they try. There’s also a unique pressure of being able to want to enjoy everything but also live up to the expectation to do well since you’re the first in the family to go through this.”
Q: How much pride do you take in working at a university that serves such a large population of first-generation college students?
Alexandria Gulotta: “I take a lot of pride in working at a university that serves people who have similar experiences to me. I enjoy that I can help them learn and grow like the higher education professionals that helped me learn and grow during my time in undergrad.”
Q: How important are athletics to first-generation college students?
Alexandria Gulotta: “Athletics are very important to first-generation college students as they help students become part of the community.”
Q: What is the most valuable trait that you bring to your job as a first-generation college graduate?
Alexandria Gulotta: “I believe that the most important thing I bring to my job as a first-generation college student is understanding. Because I went through it myself, I know how to help other first-generation college students succeed.”
Q: What advice would you give to other first-generation college students?
Alexandria Gulotta: “Ask for help when you need it, enjoy every minute of college, and hard work now will pay off later.”