La'Tonya "LT" Rease Miles
With a strong identity as a first-generation college graduate, La’Tonya “LT” Rease Miles has built a career dedicated to expanding access, visibility, and success for first-gen students and professionals. After earning her PhD in American Literature from UCLA, she chose to focus not on a traditional faculty track alone, but on administrative leadership—where she could directly design programs, shape institutional culture, and build systems of support. Early in her career, she served as Director of First Year Experience at UCLA, overseeing programs that supported thousands of incoming students while also leading mentoring and academic support initiatives.
Her most transformative leadership work began at Loyola Marymount University, where she founded the institution’s first-generation program—an experience that launched her into national visibility in the field. Building on that momentum, she created a digital community that grew to thousands of members, connecting first-gen students, adult learners, and community college students across the country. Over time, she advanced into senior leadership roles, including dean-level work and national education partnerships, and later transitioned into the ed tech space as a subject matter expert focused on scaling impact across institutions and organizations.
Today, she is a multi-time founder and thought leader operating at the intersection of education, media, and advocacy. She is the Founder and CEO of First Gen Nation, Founder and Executive Director of My Tribe Media, and an Adjunct Lecturer in the Educational Leadership Program at Santa Clara University. Through her work, she examines how media representation shapes policy, identity, and opportunity for 21st-century learners, while also building platforms that amplify first-gen voices. A first-generation college graduate herself, she remains committed to creating ecosystems that expand access, challenge narratives, and empower the next generation to define their own stories.
• Dec 2023 Amazing Advocate La'Tonya Rease Miles
• Certified- Career Launch
• UCLA
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), American Literature
• University of Maryland
Bachelor's Degree, English Language and Literature/Letters
• Howard University
• Founder-The Black First-Gen Collective
• Member- Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority
• Inc.
• Advisory Board Member- OneGoal
• Writer and editor- Wikipedia
• The Free Encyclopedia
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of seizing opportunities when they arise and the support of exceptional supervisors and mentors throughout my career. I have also remained committed to authenticity in my leadership and decision-making, which has helped me build trust and long-term relationships. Persistence, along with a strong focus on community-building across institutions, has been central to my ability to create and sustain meaningful impact.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is simple but powerful: “Be your best self and show up.” That guidance has stayed with me throughout my professional journey and has grounded how I approach leadership, collaboration, and new opportunities.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to lean fully into their authentic selves and not feel pressured to fit into someone else’s definition of success. It is important to show up in ways that reflect who you truly are, while also being willing to create your own opportunities when they do not already exist. Confidence, clarity of purpose, and authenticity are powerful tools for building a meaningful career.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities right now is the ability to scale impact through EdTech platforms and nonprofit organizations in ways that were not previously possible. There is also significant potential in media advocacy and research to influence public narratives and policy related to first-generation and underrepresented students. At the same time, a key challenge is building sustainable leadership structures that ensure this work can continue and evolve beyond any one individual.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me most are authenticity, community, and mentorship. I am deeply committed to supporting underrepresented and first-generation students and professionals, and to creating inclusive environments where people feel seen, valued, and empowered. Ultimately, I strive to build spaces and programs that reflect those values in both practice and impact.