The Career Closet initiative, spearheaded by the University of Memphis Office of First-Generation Student Success (OFGSS), has unveiled its next chapter — a sustainable suit rental system. It was announced at the OFGSS’s First-Gen Panel on March 27.
The new Resources for First-Generation Success and Employment (R1SE) initiative includes a suit checkout system designed to provide free access to professional attire for all UofM students.
Whether a student is preparing for an important interview, heading to an internship or simply wanting to look their best, everyone should have the opportunity to present themselves with confidence.
Jacki Rodriguez, director of The Office of First-Generation Student Success, has successfully grown the UofM First-Gen office and its initiatives and helped it to become nationally recognized as a First Forward Champion university. A designation afforded to only 14 universities out of a First Forward network of over 400 universities. As a first-gen student herself, Rodriguez navigated the unfamiliar landscape of college without guidance or practical expertise. Her work with UofM First-Gen students provides the support and knowledge they need to have a meaningful and successful college experience.
“I didn’t really know what I was doing, didn’t know what a major meant or what career to pursue,” Rodriguez explained.
“I did a lot of exploring, a lot of mistakes here and there, but what I did discover is it did prepare me for this role. The mistakes are actually part of the opportunity.”
The career closet is a lifeline for students who can’t afford professional attire, but it’s just one part of a much larger, deeply impactful support system — the OFGSS.
“I love being first generation, but I knew there were so many barriers, and I wanted to have an opportunity to be part of that process to help students that are coming through,” Rodriguez said.
“I love being first generation, but I knew there were so many barriers, and I wanted to have an opportunity to be part of that process to help students that are coming through.”
The creation of the Career Closet came from understanding these unique barriers. Rodriguez works closely with first-gen student mentors who come through the office as freshmen and then eventually show fellow first-generation students the ropes.
The initial Career Closet idea was born to meet a growing need to provide students with business attire who couldn’t afford them.
“A student who wanted to go to a career fair had seen fliers that said you have to wear formal attire,” Rodriguez said. “Well, they couldn’t afford the formal attire, so that was one of the reasons they felt like they couldn’t go. But a suit is also for internships and for confidence.
“Growing up First-Gen and not having the money for a suit, I understood that. So, something that I talked about with my peer mentors is that it’s a community. We come together and we say, ‘OK, what’s the need? How can we meet it?’ We knew that we had enough alumni that we could start the donation drop-off process,” Rodriguez said.
The Career Closet is a success thanks in part to the donations. More than10,000 donations were made by alumni, friends and other members of the community in the fall of 2024. The monumental turnout of the first drive left Rodriguez and her student mentors with more clothes than they knew what to do with. Meeting this often-overlooked need opened the door to creating more connections and helped spread the word about the office around campus.
These articles include suits for men and women, dress shirts and blouses, pants, purses, ties, belts and shoes in a variety of sizes.
“We have to continually fill those donations, and sometimes we run out of the sizing, so we wanted to make sure that we had enough sizes for every UofM student who has a need,” Rodriguez said.
The next step was to make the career closet sustainable. A donation from longtime UofM supporter Hal Fogelman allowed for the purchase of brand-new suits and the beginning of a suit checkout system.
“We were able to purchase in bulk from JCPenney four suits in each size for men and women,” Rodriguez said.
“JCPenney gave us an excellent discount. We got half off on the suits and we were able to buy them in bulk and get them shipped here. Now, we have to implement the checkout system. We’re going to be working with ITS and our Computer Science and Engineering students in the OFGSS to get it on our website and to create an inventory-based system so that we can always see how many sizes we have and where they’re at,” Rodriguez explained. Students can checkout suits for up to four days, even over the weekend.
Additional funding from the donor will help initially cover the dry cleaning cost between rentals. The success of OFGSS’s MomentUM campaign purchased the hanging racks to house the suits in Mitchell Hall.
The career closet is an essential resource that offers more than just clothes; it gives students confidence in themselves and their ability to succeed. It strengthens the bonds between the Tiger community and serves as a reminder of what the power of compassion can make possible.
To learn more about ways to support the Career Closet or to schedule a clothing donation, contact OFGSS at firstgen@memphis.edu.
