About FirstGen Forward

Welcome to FirstGen Forward! Established in 2017 as the Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of NASPA and The Suder Foundation, the organization has grown and become a collaborative effort across the entire higher education system, working directly with hundreds of institutions that serve millions of first-generation students. In August, 2024, the organization became an independent organization under the name FirstGen Forward.


VISION

Transforming higher education to drive first-generation student success effectively and equitably across education, career, and life. Read the full FirstGen Forward vision statement here.

MISSION

We partner with higher education, philanthropy, business, the public sector and others to catalyze first-generation student success. We provide data, training, and expertise for a growing network of colleges and universities around the country to scale and sustain the important work of serving first-generation students while engaging a broad coalition of advocates and allies across the public and private sectors to ensure support for this critical population.

ABOUT

First-generation college students are critically important and an increasing population at nearly all institutions of higher education. As college and university leaders and practitioners are actively seeking avenues to best meet the specific needs of first-generation students, FirstGen Forward serves as a leader for scholarly discussion, data collection and dissemination, information sharing, networking, and evidence-based program development and best practices.

Through provision of services and guidance across institutional types, FirstGen Forward acknowledges the intersectional experiences of first-generation college students. This website serves as a home for updates and announcements, an outlet for sharing cutting edge research and current media conversations, opportunities for engagement through conferences and events, and access to a bevy of programs and services intended to improve first-generation initiatives across higher education.

FirstGen Forward, based in Washington, DC, invites you to join our engaged community of thoughtful practitioners across higher education. We encourage you to become involved in current and future initiatives and look forward to learning how you are currently serving first-generation students in your community. Thank you for your commitment to first-generation student success!

Our Founders

FirstGen Forward Leadership

FirstGen Forward will serve as the primary entity to increase the research, scholarship, and effective practice supporting first-generation student success and to expand the number of institutions with evidence-based programs. 

If you are interested in having a first-generation college success speaker for a meeting or event, please contact FirstGen Forward at [email protected].

Center Staff
Stephanie J. Bannister Headshot
Stephanie J. Bannister, Ph.D.

Vice President, FirstGen Forward Network, FirstGen Forward

Bio: Bill Barker
Bill Barker

Senior Director, External Relations & Policy, FirstGen Forward

Marissa Bastian, M.A.

Program Manager, Data Analytics, FirstGen Forward

Wendy Beesley Headshot
Wendy Beesley, M.P.A.

Director, Expert Guidance, FirstGen Forward

Nancy Camarillo, M.S.

Director, Skill Building & Collaborations, FirstGen Forward

Mary Fugate Headshot
Mary Fugate, Ph.D.

Assistant Vice President, Data Analytics, FirstGen Forward

Sam Goessling, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President, Growth & Strategic Partnerships, FirstGen Forward

Bio: Zachery Holder
Zachery Holder, M.S.

Associate Director, Operations & Talent, FirstGen Forward

Angeli Johnson, M.Sc.

Curriculum & Learning Design Manager, FirstGen Forward

Catherine Johnson, M.Ed.

Data Expert Guide, FirstGen Forward

Maurice A. Jones, J.D.

Chief Executive Officer, FirstGen Forward

Marie Mahovetz Headshot
Marie Mahovetz, Ed.S.

Network Operations Manager, FirstGen Forward

Martina Martin Headshot
Martina A. Martin, Ed.D.

Assistant Vice President, Network Success, FirstGen Forward

Robert C. McGowan

Assistant Director, Government Relations & Policy, FirstGen Forward

Garrett Nagaishi Headshot
Garrett Nagaishi, M.A.

Director, Network Operations, FirstGen Forward

Kyle Nixon Headshot
Kyle Nixon, M.A.

Assistant Vice President, Network Recruitment & Operations, FirstGen Forward

Rosemary Sandoval Headshot
Rosemary Sandoval

Assistant Director, Network Operations, FirstGen Forward

Diane Schorr Updated
Diane Schorr, J.D., CAP

Sr. Director, Scholarly Knowledge & Publications, FirstGen Forward

BIO: Benji Smith
Benji Smith

Design and Digital Innovation Manager, FirstGen Forward

Nancy Stalowski, Ed.D.

Director, Diagnostics & Data Analytics, FirstGen Forward

Megan Stone Headshot
Megan Stone

Assistant Vice President, Growth & Operations, FirstGen Forward

Jennifer Luken Sutton, Ph.D.

Expert Guide, FirstGen Forward

BIO: Bailey Titus
Bailey Titus, M.A.

Research & Data Manager, FirstGen Forward

Deana Waintraub Stafford
Deana Waintraub Stafford, M.Ed.

Vice President, Field Development & Engagement, FirstGen Forward

Jennifer Warden

Director, Growth & Strategic Partnerships, FirstGen Forward

Qua'Aisa Williams Headshot
Qua'Aisa Williams, Ph.D.

Assistant Vice President, Curriculum & Learning Design, FirstGen Forward

Bio: Ashlee Young
Ashlee Kocina Young, M.Ed.

Associate Director, Expert Guidance, FirstGen Forward

Board of Directors
Bio: Kevin Kruger
Kevin Kruger, Ph.D.

President Emeritus, NASPA

Bio: Deborah Suder
Deborah Suder

Director and Co-Founder, The Suder Foundation

Bio: Eric Suder
Eric Suder

President and Founder, The Suder Foundation

Jeanine Ward-Roof, Ph.D.

Vice President for Student Affairs, Ferris State University

Danita M. Brown Young, Ph.D.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Advisor to the Board
Matthew Randazzo

President and CEO, Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Forward Thinkers
Sonja Ardoin, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs, Clemson University

Bio: Amy Baldwin
Amy Baldwin, Ed.D.

Former Director and Senior Lecturer of Writing, Literacy, and Academic Success in Student Transitions, University of Central Arkansas

Ryan Barone Headshot
Ryan Barone, Ph.D.

Assistant Vice President for Student Success, Colorado State University

Lori Billenstein Headshot
Lori Billenstein, M.Ed.

Director, TRiO Programs and Special Projects, Columbus State Community College

Bio: Julie Carbello
Julie Carballo, M.Ed.

Assistant Dean for First-generation, Transfer and Veteran Initiatives, North Central College

Maria Erb 2020 Headshot
Maria Dykema Erb, M.Ed.

Past Chair; Director, Newbury Center, First-generation Program, Boston University

Freda J. Gipp, Ed.D.

Senior Admin Assistant/University Services, Bureau of Indian Education, U.S. Department of Interior; Haskell Indian Nations University

Rashné Jehangir 2020 Headshot
Rashné Jehangir, Ph.D.

Professor of Higher Education and Assistant Dean of Education Opportunity Program; Robert H. Beck Chair of Ideas, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities

Bio: Oscar Miranda
Oscar Miranda Tapia, M.Ed.

Doctoral Candidate, North Carolina State University

Kaye Monk-Morgan 2020 Headshot
V. Kaye Monk-Morgan, Ed.D.

Chief Impact Officer, Kansas Leadership Center

Kelley O'Neal 2020 Headshot
Kelley O'Neal, M.Ed.

Chair; Executive Director, Byrne Student Success Center, Texas A&M University

Daphne Rankin 2020 Headshot
Daphne L. Rankin, Ph.D.

Chair-elect; Associate Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management, Virginia Commonwealth University

Jacki Rodriguez Headshot
Jacki Rodriguez, M.A.

Director, Office of First Gen Student Success, University of Memphis

Jennifer Schoen 2020 Headshot
Jennifer Schoen, M.Ed.

Director of Opportunity Scholarship and Outreach Programs, Northeastern University

Claude Taylor Headshot
Claude Taylor, M.A.

Title V Project Director, Middlesex College

Mary Wallace Headshot
Mary Wallace, Ph.D.

Assistant Vice President of Student Experience, University of Alabama at Birmingham

James H. Whitney III, Ed.D.

Assistant Vice President, Academic Affairs, Mercer County Community College

Bio: James K. Winfield
James Winfield, Ed.D.

Associate Dean, Global Campus First-Year Experience, General Education, and Retention Strategies, Southern New Hampshire University

Advisory Board
Monique Ashton

Mayor, Rockville, MD

Randy Berholtz

Chairman & CEO, Rancho Santa Fe Bio, Inc

Courtney Brown

Vice President of Impact and Planning, Lumina Foundation

Niren Chaudhary

Chairman, Panera Brands

Anne Curzan

Professor, University of Michigan

Freeman A. Hrabowski III

Former President, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Juan Sepulveda

Professor, Trinity University