Meet Sherlean Roberts

Sherlean Roberts, a 2020 HFCA alum, experienced the Pandemic’s immediate effects on her senior year much like other high schoolers across the country. 

When other high school grads were forced to change their post-secondary plans in 2020, Sherlean persisted. As a result, she has just begun her junior year at Marquette University and she is on track to graduate in 2024 with a double major in Political Science and International Studies with a minor in Peace Studies. 

It wasn’t always smooth sailing and Sherlean sought help when faced challenges in her first year in college, “I leaned on my HFCA family for support,” explains Roberts. 

She also credits HFCA’s Early College Program for preparing her for college. She was one of the school’s first students to obtain college credits while still in high school. She says that HFCA helped her prepare for college by teaching her how to effectively communicate and ask for the assistance she needs.

Sherlean clearly has her eyes set on transforming her world. She worked with Marquette’s Les Aspin Center for Government for a semester earlier this year, and she also served as a congressional intern in Washington, D.C. for U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore. There, she worked on a bipartisan fire safety law that would install sprinkler systems in low-income homes.

Roberts is also committed to The American Federation for Children, where she promotes opportunities for students and families in education.

Roberts’ desire to help others was nurtured during her time at HFCA and her connection to the school remains strong. During the Pandemic she returned to work as a Student Success Coach to mentor and help our students keep on track with their academics.

“I just believe in everything that HFCA does,” she explains. “I really feel like the staff are here to help the students.”

She also shared some advice for HFCA’s Class of 2023, ”Don’t give up because it is going to get difficult before it gets easier.”