First-Generation College Spotlight: Tiffany Burston
(November 17, 2025) - Tiffany Burston currently serves as the Business Manager for Housing Operations at Clayton State University. A proud First-Generation College graduate, she has earned three degrees from Clayton State University: an Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology, and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Criminal Justice. She is presently pursuing her Doctorate in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy at Valdosta State University. She starts her dissertation stage next semester (2026).
From the age of five until she turned eighteen, Tiffany was raised in the care of the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS). During that time, she had little to no contact with her biological parents, seeing her mother only intermittently and her father maybe three times in her life. Reflecting on her journey, Tiffany shared, “My immediate biological family, my mother, father, and siblings, did not attend college. I was the first in my family to do so, followed by my eldest daughter and now my youngest sister.
Reflecting on the impact of growing up without a traditional family unit, Tiffany shared, “It taught me how to be a great parent. I didn’t have parents when I was growing up. I lived in several foster homes and eventually in a group home for boys and girls.” She recalls watching other children receive Christmas gifts, go on family vacations, and have their parents attend school events, experiences she had not felt.
Those memories shaped her deeply. “When I had my two children, they became my world. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for them,” Tiffany said. “I’m not materialistic, but I made sure they had clothes, shoes, and everything they needed. I wanted them to have a home where they felt safe and stable. I didn’t move for 22 years because I knew what it was like to move constantly and attend different schools; I didn’t want that for them.”
Tiffany reunited with her biological mother as a teenager and learned something that changed her perspective forever: her mother could not read. Tiffany shared, “At that point, I knew how important education was. I wanted to learn and be able to teach my family. So, I decided to go to school, and I haven’t stopped since. Soon, I will earn my doctorate.”
Balancing motherhood and education was not easy for Tiffany. She was a full-time mom while pursuing her degree, learning how to juggle both responsibilities. In the beginning, she stayed home to care for her children, but as they grew older, she began working as a student assistant while attending classes at Clayton State. “I was married with kids,” Tiffany explained. “My husband and I were a young African American couple trying to raise two children while going to school. It was very tough. Sometimes, I brought my kids to class, and some professors would let them sit quietly in the back. I’d save their homework for my evening classes so they could work while I focused on my lectures.”
For Tiffany, being a first-generation college student is about more than just earning degrees; it’s about transformation. “Pursuing my education has allowed me to provide for my family in the way I always wished to be cared for as a child, and for that, I’m truly grateful,” she said. “I feel like I’ve broken barriers and generational chains within my family. Being a first-generation college graduate means changing the narrative for those who come after me. It’s about setting an example for my children and younger relatives, showing that with hard work and faith, anything is possible. It’s a reflection of how far I’ve come, and a reminder to keep paving the way for others.”
Learn more about being a First-Gen College Student at Clayton State University on our website: https://www.clayton.edu/about/administration/student-affairs/first-generation