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About the Center

Welcome to the Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of NASPA and The Suder Foundation.


about the center

VISION

Transforming higher education to drive first-generation student success effectively and equitably across education, career, and life.

MISSION

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.

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, the Center for First-generation Student Success emerges as a leader for scholarly discussion, information sharing, networking, and program development.

Through provision of services and guidance across institutional types, the Center aims to acknowledge the intersectional experiences of first-generation college students. This website serves as a home for Center 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.

The Center, based at NASPA in Washington, DC, invites you to join our engaged community of thoughtful practitioners across higher education by becoming a NASPA member.  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!

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES  


Connect Multi Black

Connect & Recognize

 

Knowledge Multi Green

Knowledge Creation &
Evidence-based Practices

 

Scalable Approaches Blue

First Scholars
Network

 

Thought Leadership Orange

Thought Leadership &
Advocacy

Click here to learn more about the Center Strategic Priorities.

The Suder Foundation

The Suder Foundation was founded from Eric and Deborah Suders’ vision to design an innovative program that would dramatically increase the graduation rates of first-generation college students—those who are first in their family to attend college. For several years prior to starting the foundation, the Suders endowed scholarships at The University of Texas at Austin (UT) and West Virginia University (WVU) in order to help students with middle-range academic credentials and financial need who wanted to go to college but couldn’t afford it. They naïvely thought that financial assistance alone would assure the students’ success. They quickly learned this was not the case and most recently amplified investment in first-generation student success.

LEARN MORE

Center Leadership

The Center for First-generation Student Success 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 the Center by email at [email protected].

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

Vice President, First Scholars Network, Center for First-generation Student Success

Bio: Bill Barker
Bill Barker

Senior Director, External Relations & Policy, Center for First-generation Student Success

Marissa Bastian, M.A.

Program Manager, Data Analytics, Center for First-generation Student Success

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

Director, Expert Guidance, Center for First-generation Student Success

Nancy Camarillo, M.S.

Director, Skill Building & Collaborations, Center for First-generation Student Success

Nancy P. Crimmin, Ed.D.

Senior Fellow, Center for First-generation Student Success

Mary Fugate Headshot
Mary Fugate, Ph.D.

Assistant Vice President, Data Analytics, Center for First-generation Student Success

Sam Goessling, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President, Growth & Strategic Partnerships, Center for First-generation Student Success

Bio: Zachery Holder
Zachery Holder, M.S.

Associate Director, Operations & Talent, Center for First-generation Student Success

Angeli Johnson Headshot
Angeli Johnson, M.Sc.

Curriculum & Learning Design Manager, Center for First-generation Student Success

Maurice A. Jones, J.D.

Chief Executive Officer, Center for First-generation Student Success

Bio: Ashley Kulland
Ashley Kulland, M.S.

Research & Data Manager, Center for First-generation Student Success

Marie Mahovetz Headshot
Marie Mahovetz, Ed.S.

Network Operations Manager, Center for First-generation Student Success

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

Assistant Vice President, Network Success, Center for First-generation Student Success

Robert C. McGowan

Assistant Director, Government Relations & Policy, Center for First-generation Student Success

Garrett Nagaishi Headshot
Garrett Nagaishi, M.A.

Director, Network Operations, Center for First-generation Student Success

Lydia Nicholson Headshot
Lydia Nicholson

Prospect Manager, Center for First-generation Student Success

Kyle Nixon Headshot
Kyle Nixon, M.A.

Assistant Vice President, Network Recruitment & Operations, Center for First-generation Student Success

Rosemary Sandoval Headshot
Rosemary Sandoval

Assistant Director, Network Operations, Center for First-generation Student Success

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

Sr. Director, Scholarly Knowledge & Publications, Center for First-generation Student Success

BIO: Benji Smith
Benji Smith

Graphic Design and Web Manager, Center for First-generation Student Success

Nancy Stalowski Headshot
Nancy Stalowski, Ed.D.

Director, Diagnostics & Data Analytics, Center for First-generation Student Success

Megan Stone Headshot
Megan Stone

Assistant Vice President, Growth & Operations, Center for First-generation Student Success

BIO: Bailey Titus
Bailey Titus, M.A.

Research & Data Manager, Center for First-generation Student Success

Deana Waintraub Stafford
Deana Waintraub Stafford, M.Ed.

Vice President, Field Development & Engagement, Center for First-generation Student Success

Bio: Sarah Whitley
Sarah E. Whitley, Ph.D.

Executive Vice President, Center for First-Generation Student Success

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

Assistant Vice President, Curriculum & Learning Design, Center for First-generation Student Success

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

Associate Director, Expert Guidance, Center for First-generation Student Success

Advisory Board
Bio: Mamta Accapadi
Mamta Accapadi, Ph.D.

Higher Ed Consulting Director, Huron

Bio: Angela Alvarado Coleman
Angela Alvarado Coleman, Ed.D.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, North Carolina Central University

Bio: Courtney Brown
Courtney Brown, Ph.D.

Vice President of Impact and Planning, Lumina Foundation

Bio: Sarita Brown
Sarita Brown, M.A.

President, Excelencia in Education

Jaqueline Cortez Wang, M.A.

Chief Strategy Officer and Vice President for External Partnerships, Achieving the Dream

Bio: Steve Dandaneau
Steven P. Dandaneau, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities (UERU), Colorado State University

Bio: Diana Doyle
Diana M. Doyle, Ph.D.

Retired President; Higher Education Consultant, Arapahoe Community College

Bio: Jennifer Engle
Jennifer Engle, Ph.D.

Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Education

Bio: Maureen Hoyler 2018
Maureen Hoyler, J.D.

Senior Advisor to the President, Council for Opportunity in Education

Bio: Ellen Junn SSHE21
Ellen Junn, Ph.D.

President Emerita, California State University, Stanislaus

Bio: Jennifer Keup
Jennifer Keup, Ph.D.

Vice President, Urban Initiatives & Executive Director, Coalition of Urban-Serving Universities, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities

Bio: Kevin Kruger
Kevin Kruger, Ph.D.

President, NASPA

DeRionne Pollard Headshot
DeRionne Pollard, Ph.D.

President, Nevada State University

Charles F. Robinson, Ph.D.

Chancellor, University of Arkansas

Bio: Kirk Schulz
Kirk Schulz, Ph.D.

President, Washington State University

Bio: Louis Soares
Louis Soares, M.P.A.

Chief Learning and Innovation Officer, American Council on Education

Bio: Deborah Suder
Deborah Suder

Director and Co-Founder, The Suder Foundation

Bio: Eric Suder
Eric Suder

President and Founder, The Suder Foundation

Advisory Board Ex-Officio Members
Bio: Sarah Whitley
Sarah E. Whitley, Ph.D.

Executive Vice President, Center for First-Generation Student Success

Advocacy Group
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