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First Generation Symposium: Blazing a Trail to First-Gen Success

Join faculty and staff across campus to learn about practices in supporting first-generation students. The purpose of the symposium is to engage the campus in valuable dialogue on promoting the success of first-generation students. The Symposium will take place in various locations in Rackham Graduate School. 

This year, the symposium encompasses four components:

  • Understanding first-generation students and their intersecting identities
  • Teaching and advising
  • Data, evaluation, and assessment
  • Admission, retention, and graduate success.


Please choose a set to view the list of sessions inside and register.
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Symposium Opening

Session 1

Lunch - Student Panel

Session 2

Keynote and Working Session

Closing Remarks



Symposium Opening

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Rackham Amphitheater
Dr. Robert Sellers, Chief Diversity Officer

Dr. Robert Sellers is the Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion, Chief Diversity Officer, and the Charles D. Moody Collegiate Professor of Psychology and Education. As Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer, Dr. Sellers works with the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs on matters related to diversity at the university as well as a broad range of academic issues including the budget, faculty tenure and promotions, and student enrollment. He oversees operations of five central administrative units.

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Session 1


Supporting Students Through College: First-Gen & Intersecting Identities

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Jazmin Williams, Academic Advisor and Sarah Kucemba, Academic Advisor - LSA Comprehensive Studies Program

During this workshop, we will review the unique aspects of CSP designed to support first-generation, and other underrepresented students at the U-M Ann Arbor. During this panel discussion, current first-generation college students will also describe their first-hand experiences navigating the university and how CSP helped them overcome these obstacles and challenges. 


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First-generation College Students at U-M: What do we know

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Carson Phillips, Institutional Researcher and Younger Oliver, Graduate Research Assistant - Office of Budget and Planning

This presentation seeks to help faculty and staff learn about the experiences of first-generation college students at the University of Michigan. Using institutional data and results from student surveys, this session will shed light on what it means to be a first-generation college student at U-M.

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Being First: A Podcast for Bridging the First-Gen Gap

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Lance Bitner-Laird, Advanced Leadership Fellow and Carlos Henderson, Advanced Leadership Fellow - Barger Leadership Institute

"Being First" is a podcast for the modern first-generation college student—an exploration of first-gen life on campus and a how-to for surviving undergrad while simultaneously finding the stride conducive with thriving. "Being First" is for those students who are trailblazers amongst their families and communities—the firsts to make their way to college. 

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Lunch and Student Panel

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Assembly Hall - Rackham Graduate School

Join us for lunch with a student panel. 

Moderator: Matthew Sullivan, Director of Sociology Opportunities for Undergraduate Leaders (SOUL) Program and Lecturer
Panelists: TBA

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Session 2


First Gen Students (FGS) What's Beyond College

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Joelle Fundaro Randall, Assistant Director - Career Center

The University of Michigan has faced challenging climate issues in recent years, and students have demanded that staff be more effective in creating a positive campus environment. At the University Career Center, we ourselves have started to think differently. Join us as we share what we learn to best support first generation colleges student to support them during their college career and beyond.

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Challenges of First Generation Student Upward Mobility

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Dwight Lang, Lecturer - LSA Sociology

When working and lower class, first generation students start college they find themselves in a middle class institution – a very different place when compared to where they grew up. They need to make many adjustments as they begin their upward mobility journey. What are some of the challenges and victories?  

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First-Gen Students Leveraging Identities to Make the Most of Michigan

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Martha Kirpes, Curriculum and Outreach Coordinator, Vicky Bankowski, Facilitator in General Studies, Shaina Jansen, Facilitator in Sociology, Matthew DeMaio, Student Lead Coordinator - Housing

First Gen peer facilitators of ALA 171 “Making the Most of Michigan” lead activities that help first-year or transfer students leverage intersecting social identities to use resources and grow as leaders at Michigan. They present Student Life assessment data indicating ALA 171 students make gains on six learning outcomes.

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Keynote and Working Session

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Keynote: Javier Solorzano Parada, Program Manager, Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs; Working Session: Adan Hussain, First Gen Project Manager, Terra Molengraff, Success Coach, and Matthew Sullivan, Director of SOUL Program and Lecturer

Join us for the First Gen Symposium keynote lecture by Javier Solorzano Parada MA and a collaborative working session where participants will envision the future for first generation students and work at the University of Michigan. 


Keynote: Javier Solorzano Parada M.A., Program Manager, Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs

Working Session Facilitators: Adan Hussain, First Gen Project Manager; Terra Molengraff, Success Coach, Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives; and Matthew Sullivan, Director of SOUL Program and Lecturer

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Closing Remarks

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Adan Hussain, First Gen Project Manager
Join us for a wrap up of the day with First Gen Project Manager, Adan Hussain. 
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