First Generation Story: Meet Professor Kelly Coates
During National First-Generation College Celebration Week, the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health is proud to highlight members of our community who were the first in their families to graduate from college. Their stories remind us that there’s no single route to success—and that sometimes, the most meaningful paths are the ones we don’t expect.
About Kelly Coates
Kelly Coates, PhD, is a professor at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. She earned her MPH in Health Education/Health Promotion from Portland State University in 2005 and her PhD in Health Systems & Policy in 2021. She completed her dissertation on the connection between school-based health services and student attendance, the first at OHSU-PSU to use coincidence analysis (CNA) as its primary research method.
In addition to teaching Health Systems Management and Policy courses at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, Coates will soon be leaving her current position at CareOregon, as she recently accepted a leadership role with the Oregon Pediatric Society that will be announced soon.
Life Doesn’t Follow Checkboxes
Coates’ journey began with the belief that life was meant to follow a series of steps: finish high school, go to college, earn a degree, and move seamlessly into a career. But she quickly discovered that the path forward rarely fits into neat boxes.
Her early ambition was to attend medical school, a plan she pursued with determination. When that path didn’t unfold as she expected, it sparked a period of uncertainty and self-discovery. What emerged instead was a deep curiosity about systems, equity, and the social conditions that shape opportunity and health.
“At some point, checking the checkboxes no longer felt linear, or they became harder to achieve. That’s when I realized life doesn’t follow checkboxes, it’s about finding your own path,” said Coates.
That realization became a guiding principle. Her academic journey shifted toward research and evaluation, where she could explore how education and health intersect to influence student well-being. Mentorship played a pivotal role in that shift, helping her see new possibilities and gain the confidence to take bold steps toward a PhD.
Navigating the Unknown as a First-Generation Student
Like many first-generation college students, Coates faced challenges that went far beyond coursework. She had to learn the hidden language of academia, everything from understanding what a “journal article citation” meant to figuring out how to find mentors and resources that weren’t readily visible.
Without a roadmap, she relied on persistence, curiosity, and the belief that she belonged. Each obstacle became a lesson in adaptability and resilience. Over time, Coates learned that success wasn’t about perfection or privilege, it was about continuing to show up and move forward, even when the next step wasn’t clear.
Her experience as a first-generation student continues to shape how she approaches her work today. In both her research and community leadership, she focuses on dismantling barriers to opportunity, particularly where education and health intersect.
Creating Change Through Connection
Coates lived experience has instilled in her a strong commitment to equity and systems change. A defining moment came when she listened to This American Life’s “The Problem We All Live With” by Nikole Hannah-Jones. The story about educational inequity, desegregation, and the deep and persistent biases built into our systems struck a deep chord, reminding her of the privileges she’d had—and the disparities many students still face.
“I recognized that the color of my skin, the support of my parents, and the relatively high-level of education I received through the North Clackamas School District afforded me privileges and support that many other students throughout the country do not have,” said Coates.
That awareness continues to drive her work, as she looked to health-focused interventions and approaches to ensuring children, and their families and communities, can have the supports they need to succeed.. Through research, mentorship, and advocacy, Coates strives to create systems that allow every child, regardless of background, to thrive.
Finding Purpose Beyond the Checkboxes
Coates’ story is a reminder that there’s no single right way to reach your goals. Whether you’re a student just beginning your journey or a professional finding your next step, success isn’t measured by how many boxes you check, but by the courage to keep moving forward, to ask questions, and to believe that your path, however winding, has value.