DeAnna Capaldi ’27, a biomedical sciences major and neuroscience minor from South Philadelphia, is a passionate advocate for first-generation students on campus. Capaldi serves as president of St. Joe’s chapter of Tri-Alpha, the national first-generation honor society, which has around 100 members. She also works in the registrar’s office, serves as a Hawk Host, is a medical assistant at a local lab and is currently helping start the new first-gen club at St. Joe’s. 

Capaldi’s leadership is rooted in her own experiences navigating college as a first-generation student and a desire to make things easier for those who come after her. She hopes to attend a physician assistant school after she graduates.

Why did you want to become president of Tri-Alpha?
I was looking to bring more first-gen activities to campus. I felt like there were some things, especially with our recent designation as a FirstGen Forward school…that we could do better … I saw a need for more advocacy and interaction, and I felt that that was the best way for me to have a platform to do that.

What is your goal for the new club you started for first-gen students?
My goal is to grow this club and use it to foster a more inclusive space on campus for first-generation college students. I hope to collaborate with organizations on campus that are important resources for these students to help them make the most of their experience here at SJU.

Why did you create the club separately from the honor society?
After working with incoming students through my experience as Tri-Alpha president, I realized that there are many first-generation students on campus missing out on the community and mentorship that Tri-Alpha offers. I wanted to create a space where first-gen students who do not meet the credit or GPA requirement of Tri-Alpha could still have these important connections. I have also encountered many students in unique situations who, although they may not technically qualify as first-generation students, share many of the same struggles as first-generation students do … I wanted a space where these students with unique circumstances were also included and able to benefit from the community and mentorship of our program.

What has being the president of Tri-Alpha taught you about your leadership style?
I think it has definitely taught me that for my terms of leadership, I have to be better with delegating. I have a tendency to want to take it all on, and I have a great executive board that is really excited and just as passionate as I am about doing all of these things, and it’s taken a lot of work for me to learn how to figure out everyone’s strengths and make sure that everybody is doing what they’re good at.

Who is a leader who inspired you?
I would definitely say Dr. Komada. She recently retired from the university, but she was our faculty leader for Tri-Alpha. She has done so much.

Who is your favorite U.S. president?
George Washington because he did it first. I’m running the first-gen honor society. Doing it first is a big accomplishment, and there’s no groundwork. So, respect to him.

What is something about you that might surprise other people?
I try to show high confidence and go into every situation with my head high, even if I am not fully confident … but I think that it would surprise people that I do struggle a lot with imposter syndrome.

What’s the best advice someone’s ever given you, and who gave it?

I would say my mom. One of her biggest things is: “Everything happens for a reason,” and I try to carry that with me, to an extent. Like, everything’s going to work out how it’s supposed to and sometimes things don’t go the right way … and being resilient, moving through that.

What is one word you hope people on campus would use to describe you?
Passionate, fiery.

What do you think is your best trait?
Probably resilience. I feel like there are a lot of times where I want to give up, but I found the strength to keep going through. 

What do you value most in your friends?

I never have to worry that they’re not going to be there if I need someone…I have different people that I lean on in different moments depending on if I need support or comfort. I know that they will all be there for whatever situation comes up, and I don’t have to worry about doing things alone.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to hang out with my friends. I like to do new things. I like to look for farmers markets and things like that, just to get out on a Sunday and do something fun. I love going to the beach.

Correction: The Hawk incorrectly reported the title of Elizabeth Lee, Ph.D., as faculty liaison for first-generation and low income students. Lee’s title is Inclusive Excellence faculty liaison.