Dreaming without limitations: DREAM Scholar alumna Jenae Parker reflects on her journey with ATD

Jenae Parker is a human resources generalist at ATD, having joined the team in July 2024 to support talent management and organizational development. She has been sharing the story of her educational journey since 2018, when she was a DREAM Scholar.

Since then, she has testified before Congress about her experiences as a student parent, completed her associate and bachelor’s degrees, and continued being a dedicated mother to three girls.

Keep reading to hear directly from Jenae about her college journey, the path that brought her to Team ATD, and the lasting impact the DREAM Scholars program has had on her life and career.

Q&A

Q: You were a DREAM Scholar in 2018. What do you remember most about that experience? Was there anything from the conference that stuck with you through your educational journey?

A: DREAM was the first time in my life where I saw a group of individuals who truly meant what they said about why they did this work. I felt like the people at ATD really cared holistically about my success. That influenced my purpose. DREAM was special to me because I got to see how many people are actively working on changing the narratives and breaking down those barriers — not just staff at ATD but the whole Network of colleges.

Q: In 2019, you testified before the Education and Labor committee about the cost of college, sharing your personal story to highlight the challenges that millions of college students face.  How did that opportunity come about?

A: I feel like everything kind of took off after ATD. It originally started with Community College Women Succeed, an initiative with ATD and the Biden Foundation.  The Biden Foundation interviewed me for a video at DREAM in 2019 — when Dr. Jill Biden was the keynote speaker. I also had a mentor at the time who asked if I would be open to an opportunity to testify in Congress. I did some interviews and went through screening, and then they asked me to testify.

Q: What called you to share your story to a broader audience? Why do you think it’s important for student parents and other “nontraditional” students to share their experiences with others?

A: When I was in school, I had friends who saw me doing it and actually quit full-time jobs to go back to school themselves. When I learned about Community College Women Succeed and went to DREAM, women have been raising kids and getting an education at the same time for generations. But there were so many supports and resources we weren’t aware of. There was a lot I learned at DREAM that made me a better advocate for myself, but I also realized I needed to advocate for others. Sharing my story has helped me take more information back to my friends and family to support them on their journeys.

Q: In your experience both at community college and a four-year university, what policies, actions, or resources had the greatest impact in helping you achieve your goals?

A: I think because of what I experienced at Columbus State Community College — as far as having resources and people advocating for me — that taught me how to be my own advocate at a four-year institution afterwards.

The biggest resource for me was probably affordable housing for my daughter and me. I was in Scholar House, which was student parent housing provided by Columbus State and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. Feeling safe and being able to afford housing really helped me focus on my studies. The program that ran Scholar House also provided us with financial assistance and mentors, and they used a two-generation approach, meaning there were resources for both me and my daughter.

I was also connected to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank through Columbus State. TRIO was another program that helped me, as well as a mentorship program called Women’s Connection that paired me with a mentor who worked in the same field I was studying in.

“When I think about my daughters’ childhood compared to my childhood, they’re totally different. As a child, I dreamed with limitations. My daughters do not. Everything is accessible to them — and now I’ve learned that it’s accessible to me too.”
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Q: More and more, young Americans are questioning whether college is worth the cost. What made the cost and effort of higher education “worth it” to you? What was the driving force that pushed you to attain your degrees?

A: In my experience, everyone talked about the need to go to college so that you can get a better job, make more money, take care of your family, and so on. But no one talked to me about what that looks like after you graduate. Education opens up your world to so many opportunities many people don’t know about because they haven’t had the chance to go to school.

My education has given me an opportunity to really live, where before I was so focused on just surviving. Not enough people talk about what living feels like when you have a regular, steady income. You’re not as sick, you’re not as stressed — you’re able to take care of your kids and be present and enjoy life. I think it’s important to talk about that when we’re telling people why an education is so important, especially for BIPOC people.

When I think about my daughters’ childhood compared to my childhood, they’re totally different. As a child, I dreamed with limitations. My daughters do not. Everything is accessible to them — and now I’ve learned that it’s accessible to me too.

Q: What brought you work at to ATD? Is there anything in particular about the organization’s mission or offerings that you connect with?

A: I’ve been following ATD very closely since I was a DREAM Scholar in 2018. I returned as a mentor alum in 2019 and did some other speaking engagements that originated from my connections at ATD. After that I stayed close and kept in contact, keeping up with openings within HR.

What struck me about ATD was learning that there are people who are actually working on changing the narrative and breaking down institutional barriers. I already knew that ATD’s values and mission aligned with my own, but I also believe representation matters, particularly with race. Having good representation among my colleagues and peers makes me want to get up every day and really contribute — it motivates me.

Q: ATD is currently reviewing applications for the 2025 DREAM Scholars. What advice would you give to students who are selected for the opportunity?

A: My advice is to be intentional, but be open. There are so many opportunities that came to me after DREAM and because of ATD. So be thoughtful about where you spend your time during the conference, but be very open to opportunities, to growth, and to learning about what advocacy means to you.

My experiences with ATD have influenced who I am as a leader and helped me understand my purpose and my platform. I hope the DREAM Scholars this year are intentional about their position, because it’s a privilege to be able to help others.