Introduction
First-generation college students—those who are the first in their families to attend college—represent a vital pathway for social mobility and economic opportunity. Yet these students often face unique challenges navigating higher education without the benefit of familial experience or cultural capital regarding college processes, expectations, and systems. Understanding these challenges and developing effective support strategies has been the focus of dedicated researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and advocates who have collectively transformed how higher education institutions serve this important student population.
This article highlights 100 influential individuals whose work has significantly shaped our understanding of first-generation college students and the development of programs, policies, and practices to support their success. From pioneering researchers who established foundational frameworks for understanding first-generation experiences to innovative practitioners who developed high-impact support programs, from policymakers who created access initiatives to former first-generation students who leveraged their experiences to advocate for systemic change—these individuals have collectively deepened our understanding of first-generation student experiences and created more inclusive pathways to college success.
Their contributions span multiple dimensions: theoretical frameworks illuminating the unique challenges faced by first-generation students, evidence-based interventions that enhance persistence and completion, policy initiatives that expand access and affordability, institutional transformations that create more inclusive campus environments, and powerful personal narratives that have raised awareness and inspired change. Together, they have moved higher education from deficit-oriented approaches toward asset-based perspectives that recognize the strengths, resilience, and valuable perspectives that first-generation students bring to academic communities.
Pioneering Researchers and Theorists
1. Vincent Tinto
Sociologist Vincent Tinto’s influential model of student departure fundamentally shaped understanding of college persistence factors relevant to first-generation students. His framework emphasizing academic and social integration highlighted how institutional environments affect student success, while his later work on student persistence recognized the unique challenges faced by students from disadvantaged backgrounds navigating unfamiliar college cultures. His research provided foundational theories that continue to inform first-generation student support strategies.
2. Pierre Bourdieu
French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu’s theories of cultural capital, social capital, and habitus have been instrumental in understanding the invisible advantages that continuing-generation students possess and the corresponding challenges first-generation students face. His framework explaining how cultural knowledge, social networks, and internalized dispositions function as forms of capital in educational settings has informed countless studies of first-generation student experiences and institutional barriers.
3. Alexander Astin
Through his input-environment-outcome model and extensive research on college impact, Alexander Astin provided frameworks for understanding how students’ backgrounds interact with institutional environments to produce educational outcomes. His studies identifying involvement as a critical factor in student success have influenced the development of engagement strategies particularly beneficial for first-generation students.
4. Terrell Strayhorn
Educational researcher Terrell Strayhorn’s work on sense of belonging has illuminated how feelings of connectedness and mattering affect college persistence, particularly for underrepresented students. His research specifically examining first-generation students’ experiences has revealed how belonging uncertainty impacts their academic and social integration, informing institutional approaches to creating more inclusive campus environments.
5. Laura Rendón
Through her theory of validation, Laura Rendón transformed understanding of how affirmation from faculty, staff, and peers supports academic success and personal development, especially for first-generation and non-traditional students. Her research demonstrating that proactive validation helps students overcome self-doubt and navigate unfamiliar academic cultures has informed more inclusive teaching practices and support programs.
6. Susan Choy
As a researcher at MPR Associates and the National Center for Education Statistics, Susan Choy produced groundbreaking studies documenting the demographic characteristics, enrollment patterns, and outcomes of first-generation college students. Her reports in the 1990s and early 2000s provided crucial empirical evidence about barriers facing this population, bringing national attention to their unique needs and experiences.
7. Ernest Pascarella and Patrick Terenzini
Through their comprehensive syntheses of research on college impact, Ernest Pascarella and Patrick Terenzini identified factors influencing educational outcomes for diverse student populations. Their analyses of how college affects students from different backgrounds have provided evidence about practices that particularly benefit first-generation students, influencing both research and institutional approaches.
8. William Bowen and Michael McPherson
Economists William Bowen and Michael McPherson’s research on equity in higher education, particularly in “Crossing the Finish Line,” provided empirical evidence about completion gaps facing first-generation and low-income students. Their work identifying institutional practices and policies that affect degree attainment has influenced both institutional strategies and policy approaches to addressing inequities.
9. Nicole Stephens
Social psychologist Nicole Stephens’s research on cultural mismatch has revealed how university cultures often privilege independent norms that can disadvantage first-generation students from working-class backgrounds who may hold more interdependent values. Her studies demonstrating how this mismatch affects academic performance and well-being have informed interventions that bridge cultural divides.
10. Sylvia Hurtado
Higher education researcher Sylvia Hurtado’s work on campus climate and diverse learning environments has illuminated how institutional contexts affect educational outcomes for underrepresented students. Her research on institutional practices that create more inclusive environments has particular relevance for supporting first-generation student success through campus climate improvement.
11. Elizabeth Bernal
Through her pioneering work identifying the concept of “first-generation college students” in the 1960s, Elizabeth Bernal created awareness of this population as a distinct group with specific needs. Her early advocacy and research at the University of California established foundations for targeted support programs that continue to evolve today.
12. Patricia McDonough
Education researcher Patricia McDonough’s work on college choice has revealed how social class shapes college decision-making processes. Her research on how habitus and organizational contexts influence students’ pathways to higher education has provided frameworks for understanding the complex factors affecting first-generation students’ college access and navigation.
13. Michelle Obama
Beyond her policy initiatives, Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s personal narrative as a first-generation college student attending Princeton and Harvard Law School has provided a powerful example of first-generation achievement at elite institutions. Her candid discussions of imposter syndrome and navigating unfamiliar academic environments have validated experiences of countless first-generation students.
14. Sara Goldrick-Rab
Sociologist Sara Goldrick-Rab’s research on college affordability, particularly in “Paying the Price,” has documented how financial barriers affect persistence for low-income students, many of whom are first-generation. Her work highlighting food and housing insecurity among college students has brought attention to basic needs challenges that disproportionately affect first-generation populations.
15. Peter Collier and David Morgan
Sociologists Peter Collier and David Morgan’s research on “role mastery” has illuminated how first-generation students must simultaneously learn course content and tacit expectations about the “college student role” that continuing-generation students acquire through family socialization. Their work on time management and faculty expectations has informed more explicit approaches to teaching academic norms.
16. Geneva Gay
Education researcher Geneva Gay’s work on culturally responsive teaching has provided frameworks for creating learning environments that validate diverse students’ cultural backgrounds and experiences. Her approaches emphasizing cultural knowledge, prior experiences, and performance styles have particular relevance for supporting first-generation students from diverse communities.
17. Claude Steele
Psychologist Claude Steele’s research on stereotype threat has revealed how awareness of negative stereotypes can undermine academic performance. His work has particular relevance for understanding psychological barriers facing first-generation students who may contend with stereotypes about their academic preparation or capabilities, informing interventions that create identity-safe learning environments.
18. Angela Duckworth
Psychologist Angela Duckworth’s research on grit—perseverance and passion for long-term goals—has illuminated non-cognitive factors that support academic achievement. Her work has particular relevance for understanding the resilience many first-generation students demonstrate in overcoming obstacles, though critics note the importance of addressing structural barriers rather than focusing solely on individual traits.
19. Gregory Walton
Social psychologist Gregory Walton’s research on belonging interventions has demonstrated how brief experiences addressing concerns about social belonging can improve academic outcomes for underrepresented students. His studies showing the effectiveness of these interventions for first-generation students have influenced the development of orientation programs and other initiatives that address belonging uncertainty.
20. Ricardo Stanton-Salazar
Sociologist Ricardo Stanton-Salazar’s research on institutional agents has revealed how relationships with key individuals who can provide informational, advocacy, and emotional support are crucial for students from marginalized backgrounds. His framework for understanding how these agents help students navigate institutional resources has informed mentoring programs for first-generation students.
Program Developers and Practitioners
21. Arnold Mitchem
As founder and long-time president of the Council for Opportunity in Education, Arnold Mitchem has been a tireless advocate for TRIO programs serving first-generation and low-income students. His leadership developing and defending these programs has created educational opportunities for millions of first-generation students while establishing models for comprehensive support services.
22. Donna Linderman
As Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the City University of New York, Donna Linderman led the development of Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP), which has dramatically improved graduation rates for participating students, many of whom are first-generation. Her comprehensive approach combining financial, academic, and personal support has established an evidence-based model for community college student success.
23. Nicole Hurd
As founder of the College Advising Corps, Nicole Hurd developed a model placing recent college graduates as advisors in underserved high schools to support college access. Her organization has helped hundreds of thousands of first-generation and low-income students navigate the college application process, demonstrating the impact of near-peer advising for expanding college opportunity.
24. Freeman Hrabowski
As president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Freeman Hrabowski developed the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, which has achieved remarkable success supporting underrepresented students in STEM fields, many of whom are first-generation. His leadership demonstrating how high expectations combined with comprehensive support can transform outcomes has influenced similar programs nationwide.
25. Ruth Simmons
As president of Smith College, Brown University, and Prairie View A&M University, Ruth Simmons—herself a first-generation college graduate—has implemented initiatives supporting first-generation student success at multiple institutions. Her leadership has demonstrated how institutional commitment from the highest levels can drive systemic approaches to creating more inclusive campus environments.
26. Richard Light
Harvard professor Richard Light’s research on making the most of college has identified practices that enhance undergraduate education, with particular relevance for first-generation students. His practical guidance about faculty interactions, time management, and educational choices has influenced advising approaches and student success initiatives at numerous institutions.
27. George Kuh
Through his development of high-impact educational practices and the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), George Kuh has identified experiences that disproportionately benefit underserved students, including many who are first-generation. His research documenting the benefits of practices like learning communities, undergraduate research, and service learning has influenced how institutions structure engaging educational experiences.
28. Uri Treisman
Mathematician Uri Treisman’s development of the Emerging Scholars Program has transformed calculus instruction by replacing remedial approaches with challenging collaborative workshops. His model, which has proven particularly effective for first-generation and underrepresented minority students in STEM fields, has influenced mathematics education nationwide while challenging deficit perspectives about student capabilities.
29. Anthony Abraham Jack
Harvard professor Anthony Abraham Jack’s research distinguishing between the “privileged poor” (low-income students from elite preparatory schools) and the “doubly disadvantaged” (low-income students from under-resourced public schools) has revealed diversity within the first-generation experience. His work highlighting how institutional practices can create barriers for students unfamiliar with elite educational settings has influenced more nuanced support approaches.
30. Katharine Meyer
Education researcher Katharine Meyer’s work on summer melt—the phenomenon where college-intending students fail to matriculate after high school graduation—has identified text messaging and other interventions that help first-generation students complete critical pre-enrollment tasks. Her research has influenced how colleges and college access organizations support students during the vulnerable summer transition period.
31. Anthony Carnevale
As director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Anthony Carnevale has produced influential research on the economic value of college degrees and the workforce implications of educational inequities. His work documenting how educational attainment affects lifetime earnings has provided evidence supporting expanded college access for first-generation students.
32. Belle Wheelan
As president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the first African American and woman in this role, Belle Wheelan has advocated for accreditation standards that support student success. Her leadership has influenced how institutions develop and assess support services for diverse student populations, including first-generation students.
33. Estela Bensimon
Through the Center for Urban Education’s Equity Scorecard, researcher Estela Bensimon has developed tools for institutions to identify and address equity gaps in student outcomes. Her work on equity-mindedness has influenced how colleges examine their own practices that may disadvantage first-generation and other underrepresented students, shifting focus from student deficits to institutional responsibility.
34. Deborah Santiago
As co-founder and CEO of Excelencia in Education, Deborah Santiago has led research and advocacy efforts focused on Latino student success in higher education, many of whom are first-generation. Her organization’s identification and promotion of evidence-based practices has influenced institutional approaches to supporting Latino first-generation student achievement.
35. Shaun Harper
Through the Race and Equity Center, researcher Shaun Harper has documented both challenges and success factors affecting outcomes for students of color, many of whom are first-generation. His anti-deficit achievement framework has influenced approaches to supporting success by identifying and amplifying effective strategies rather than focusing solely on barriers.
36. Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa
Through their influential book “Academically Adrift,” sociologists Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa revealed limitations in undergraduate learning gains and how these patterns relate to student backgrounds and behaviors. Their research identifying practices associated with stronger learning outcomes has influenced approaches to academic support for first-generation and other students.
37. Susan Dynarski
Economist Susan Dynarski’s research on financial aid simplification has demonstrated how complex processes create barriers for first-generation and low-income students. Her work showing the impact of clear, simple financial information and streamlined applications has influenced FAFSA reform and institutional approaches to financial aid communication.
38. Joe Cuseo
Education researcher Joe Cuseo’s work on first-year experience programs has provided frameworks for supporting students during the critical transition to college. His practical guidance for developing orientation, seminar courses, and other transitional supports has influenced how institutions structure first-year experiences to promote success for first-generation and other new students.
39. Karen Gross
As former president of Southern Vermont College and senior policy advisor to the U.S. Department of Education, Karen Gross has advocated for trauma-informed approaches to supporting first-generation and low-income students. Her work addressing the impact of adverse childhood experiences on college success has influenced more holistic support models.
40. David Scobey
Through his leadership of the Bringing Theory to Practice project, David Scobey has promoted approaches to undergraduate education that integrate academic, civic, and personal development. His advocacy for engaged learning has influenced how institutions create meaningful educational experiences that connect with the diverse backgrounds and interests of first-generation students.
Policy Advocates and Government Leaders
41. Lyndon B. Johnson
As architect of the Higher Education Act of 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson—himself a first-generation college graduate—created foundational federal programs supporting college access for disadvantaged students. His establishment of federal financial aid programs and TRIO initiatives created pathways to higher education for generations of first-generation students while setting precedent for federal involvement in promoting educational opportunity.
42. Claiborne Pell
As primary sponsor of the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant (later renamed Pell Grants), Senator Claiborne Pell established the federal government’s most significant financial aid program for low-income students. This program has enabled millions of first-generation students to attend college while creating a framework for need-based federal aid that continues today.
43. Ted Kennedy
Throughout his Senate career, Ted Kennedy championed higher education access legislation, including multiple reauthorizations of the Higher Education Act expanding support for first-generation students. His consistent advocacy maintained and strengthened federal programs supporting college opportunity during periods when these initiatives faced political challenges.
44. James Clyburn
As a champion of federal TRIO programs and other higher education initiatives, Congressman James Clyburn has consistently advocated for resources supporting first-generation and low-income student success. His personal experience as a first-generation college graduate has informed his passionate defense of opportunity programs when they face funding threats.
45. Bobby Scott
As chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Congressman Bobby Scott has led efforts to increase college affordability and access for first-generation and low-income students. His work on College Affordability Act and other legislative initiatives has sought to address financial barriers that disproportionately affect first-generation students.
46. Patty Murray
As a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Patty Murray has advocated for expanded support for first-generation college students. Her legislative initiatives addressing college costs, student debt, and completion support have consistently focused on removing barriers for underrepresented students.
47. Arne Duncan
As U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan implemented initiatives expanding college access and transparency, including simplification of the FAFSA and development of the College Scorecard. His policy leadership addressing financial barriers and information gaps has supported first-generation students in accessing and selecting appropriate college options.
48. John King
As U.S. Secretary of Education and later president of The Education Trust, John King has advocated for educational equity while highlighting his personal journey as a first-generation student who found refuge in education after losing both parents. His leadership implementing college access initiatives and calling attention to institutional responsibility for student success has influenced both policy and practice.
49. Margaret Spellings
As U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings led the Commission on the Future of Higher Education, which highlighted the need for improved access, affordability, and accountability in higher education. Her policy initiatives addressing financial aid simplification and transparency have supported first-generation students navigating complex college systems.
50. Eduardo Padrón
As president of Miami Dade College and advisor to multiple presidential administrations, Eduardo Padrón has advocated for community college funding and policies supporting immigrant and first-generation student success. His leadership has demonstrated how two-year institutions can create pathways to opportunity for diverse first-generation populations through intentional support systems.
51. Martha Kanter
As Under Secretary of Education and later executive director of the College Promise Campaign, Martha Kanter has championed initiatives making community college free for eligible students. Her advocacy for College Promise programs nationwide has expanded access to higher education for many first-generation students who begin their college journeys at two-year institutions.
52. Ted Mitchell
As Under Secretary of Education and later president of the American Council on Education, Ted Mitchell has advocated for policies supporting non-traditional student success. His leadership on initiatives addressing financial aid reform, college completion, and technology-enabled learning has sought to create more flexible pathways particularly beneficial for first-generation and working students.
53. Michelle Asha Cooper
As president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, Michelle Asha Cooper has led research and advocacy efforts focused on increasing opportunity for underserved populations. Her organization’s work addressing college access, affordability, and success has influenced policy approaches to supporting first-generation student achievement.
54. Jamie Merisotis
As president of the Lumina Foundation, Jamie Merisotis has led initiatives focused on increasing higher education attainment, particularly among underrepresented groups. His organization’s goal of increasing the proportion of Americans with high-quality credentials has driven investment in programs and policies supporting first-generation student access and completion.
55. Zakiya Smith Ellis
Through roles at the White House, Department of Education, and as New Jersey’s Secretary of Higher Education, Zakiya Smith Ellis has developed policies addressing college affordability and accessibility. Her work on consumer information tools and outcomes-focused accountability has sought to create more transparent systems that better serve first-generation and other vulnerable student populations.
56. David Bergeron
During three decades at the U.S. Department of Education and later at the Center for American Progress, David Bergeron has shaped federal higher education policy focused on access and completion. His work on income-based repayment, public service loan forgiveness, and other initiatives has addressed financial barriers particularly relevant for first-generation graduates.
57. Michael Dannenberg
Through roles at the Department of Education and advocacy organizations, Michael Dannenberg has influenced financial aid policy and accountability measures affecting first-generation student access and success. His work promoting both expanded opportunity and institutional responsibility has shaped policy approaches to addressing equity gaps in higher education.
58. Jessica Thompson
As policy director at The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), Jessica Thompson has advocated for financial aid reforms addressing barriers facing first-generation and low-income students. Her organization’s research and policy recommendations on student debt, loan repayment, and grant funding have influenced federal and state approaches to college affordability.
59. Richard D. Kahlenberg
As a senior fellow at The Century Foundation, Richard Kahlenberg has championed socioeconomic diversity in higher education through research and advocacy. His work promoting class-based affirmative action and criticizing legacy admissions has highlighted systematic advantages for continuing-generation students while advocating for more equitable access policies.
60. Amy Laitinen
Through New America’s higher education program, Amy Laitinen has advocated for policies supporting non-traditional student success, including more flexible learning models and improved credential recognition. Her work addressing quality assurance, credit transfer, and competency-based education has sought to create more navigable pathways particularly beneficial for first-generation students.
Institutional Leaders and Philanthropists
61. Michael Bloomberg
Through the American Talent Initiative and other philanthropic efforts, Michael Bloomberg has funded initiatives to expand access to selective colleges for high-achieving, low- and moderate-income students, many of whom are first-generation. His financial commitment to increasing socioeconomic diversity at top institutions has influenced institutional priorities and practices nationwide.
62. Bill and Melinda Gates
Through the Gates Foundation’s Postsecondary Success strategy, Bill and Melinda Gates have funded initiatives focused on improving college completion rates, particularly for low-income and first-generation students. Their investments in innovative programs, policy research, and institutional transformation have shaped approaches to supporting student success across higher education.
63. Michael Crow
As president of Arizona State University, Michael Crow has implemented a “universal learning” model designed to expand access while maintaining high quality. His institution’s innovative approaches to online education, adaptive learning, and student support have created scalable pathways to degree completion for diverse first-generation populations.
64. Nancy Cantor
Through leadership roles at Syracuse University, Rutgers University-Newark, and other institutions, Nancy Cantor has implemented community engagement initiatives that connect diverse first-generation students with meaningful learning opportunities. Her emphasis on universities as anchor institutions serving their communities has influenced more inclusive approaches to institutional mission.
65. Freeman Hrabowski
(Mentioned earlier) Beyond his program development work, Freeman Hrabowski’s institutional leadership at UMBC has demonstrated how presidents can drive comprehensive approaches to inclusion and excellence. His campus-wide emphasis on supporting student success through high expectations, community building, and undergraduate research has influenced leadership approaches at institutions nationwide.
66. Elaine Wynn
As co-chair of the Communities in Schools national board, philanthropist Elaine Wynn has supported initiatives providing integrated student supports from K-12 through college. Her leadership addressing non-academic barriers to educational success has influenced comprehensive approaches to supporting first-generation students throughout the educational pipeline.
67. Daniel Porterfield
Through leadership roles at Franklin & Marshall College and the Aspen Institute, Daniel Porterfield has championed expanded access to high-quality liberal arts education for first-generation and low-income students. His implementation of the Next Generation Initiative at F&M demonstrated how selective institutions can successfully increase socioeconomic diversity through intentional recruitment and support strategies.
68. Mark Milliron
Through leadership roles at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Western Governors University, and Civitas Learning, Mark Milliron has advanced data-informed approaches to student success. His work leveraging predictive analytics to identify and support struggling students has influenced how institutions use data to improve outcomes for first-generation and other vulnerable populations.
69. DeRionne Pollard
As president of Montgomery College and later Nevada State College, DeRionne Pollard has implemented initiatives supporting community college student success, with particular attention to first-generation students. Her leadership connecting two-year education to workforce development and transfer pathways has demonstrated community colleges’ crucial role in first-generation student advancement.
70. Robert Putnam
Through his research on social capital and civic engagement, particularly in “Our Kids,” political scientist Robert Putnam has documented growing opportunity gaps facing young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. His advocacy highlighting diminished pathways to upward mobility has influenced both policy discussions and philanthropic initiatives addressing barriers facing first-generation students.
71. Marie McDemmond
As the first African American woman to lead a public university in Virginia at Norfolk State University, Marie McDemmond implemented initiatives supporting success for predominantly first-generation student populations. Her leadership demonstrated how historically black colleges and universities serve as vital pathways to opportunity for first-generation students from underrepresented communities.
72. Timothy White
As chancellor of the California State University system, Timothy White led initiatives improving graduation rates across the nation’s largest four-year public university system, which serves substantial numbers of first-generation students. His Graduation Initiative 2025 established ambitious targets for closing equity gaps while implementing evidence-based practices supporting student success.
73. Gail Mellow
As president of LaGuardia Community College, Gail Mellow implemented innovative programs supporting success for diverse first-generation student populations. Her leadership addressing both academic preparation and non-academic barriers demonstrated comprehensive approaches to supporting community college student achievement.
74. Sandy Shugart
As president of Valencia College, Sandy Shugart led the development of a “direct connect” program guaranteeing admission to the University of Central Florida for associate degree completers. His leadership creating seamless transfer pathways has demonstrated how articulation agreements can support first-generation student progress toward bachelor’s degrees.
75. Bridget Terry Long
As dean of Harvard Graduate School of Education and researcher on college access, Bridget Terry Long has influenced both research and practice related to financial aid simplification and college choice. Her work demonstrating how information barriers affect enrollment decisions has influenced interventions helping first-generation students navigate complex college processes.
76. Sara Martinez Tucker
Through leadership roles at the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Under Secretary of Education, and University of Texas System Board of Regents, Sara Martinez Tucker has championed expanded educational opportunity for Latino students, many of whom are first-generation. Her work has demonstrated how targeted support programs can address specific needs of first-generation students from diverse communities.
77. Muriel Howard
As president of Buffalo State College and later the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Muriel Howard has advocated for public comprehensive universities that serve large numbers of first-generation students. Her leadership has highlighted these institutions’ crucial role in providing accessible pathways to bachelor’s degrees for diverse student populations.
78. Nancy Zimpher
As chancellor of the State University of New York system, Nancy Zimpher implemented the “Seamless Education Pipeline” initiative connecting K-12, community colleges, and four-year institutions. Her leadership creating coordinated educational pathways has demonstrated how system-level approaches can support first-generation student transitions across institutional boundaries.
79. William Kirwan
As chancellor of the University System of Maryland, William Kirwan implemented initiatives addressing college affordability, completion, and closing achievement gaps. His leadership establishing system-wide approaches to these challenges demonstrated how coordinated efforts can improve outcomes for first-generation and underrepresented students across multiple institutions.
80. Shirley Ann Jackson
As president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Shirley Ann Jackson has championed initiatives supporting underrepresented students in STEM fields, many of whom are first-generation. Her leadership has demonstrated how institutional commitment to diversity in technical fields can create new pathways for first-generation student success in high-demand disciplines.
Student Advocates and First-Generation Voices
81. Michelle Obama
(Mentioned earlier) Through the Reach Higher initiative and later the Better Make Room campaign, Michelle Obama has championed college access and completion for first-generation and underrepresented students. Her personal story as a first-generation student from Chicago’s South Side who attended Princeton and Harvard Law School has provided inspiration while her advocacy has created practical resources supporting college navigation.
82. Alejandra Ceja
As executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics and later the Panasonic Foundation, Alejandra Ceja has championed educational equity for Latino students, many of whom are first-generation. Her leadership implementing initiatives supporting college access and completion has addressed specific barriers facing this growing student population.
83. Sarah E. Lewis
As Harvard professor, author, and curator, Sarah E. Lewis has shared her journey as a first-generation college student who has achieved prominence in academic and artistic circles. Her work exploring vision and justice through multiple platforms has modeled intellectual leadership while highlighting the valuable perspectives first-generation students bring to academic discourse.
84. Anthony Jack
(Mentioned earlier) Beyond his research contributions, Anthony Jack has shared his personal journey as a first-generation student from a low-income background who navigated elite institutions. His book “The Privileged Poor” combines scholarly analysis with autobiographical elements that highlight the challenges of code-switching between different social worlds.
85. Jennine Capó Crucet
Through her essays and fiction, particularly “My Time Among the Whites,” author Jennine Capó Crucet has chronicled her experiences as a first-generation Cuban American student navigating elite higher education. Her work addressing cultural disconnection, family expectations, and identity development has given voice to common first-generation experiences while providing perspective for institutional leaders.
86. Jeff Duncan-Andrade
Educator and researcher Jeff Duncan-Andrade has documented effective educational approaches for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, drawing on his own experience as a first-generation college graduate. His work connecting educational theory with practical strategies has influenced both K-12 and higher education approaches to supporting student success.
87. Richard Saller
As dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford and later provost at the University of Chicago, classicist Richard Saller has shared his journey from a rural first-generation background to leadership in elite academia. His advocacy for expanded access while maintaining rigorous standards has influenced approaches to supporting first-generation students at selective institutions.
88. José Luis Cruz
Through leadership roles at California State University, CUNY, and the Education Trust, José Luis Cruz has advocated for equity-focused higher education policies while sharing his journey as a first-generation student from Puerto Rico. His personal narrative connected to policy leadership has demonstrated the valuable perspective first-generation experiences bring to institutional decision-making.
89. Wil Del Pilar
Through leadership roles at the Pennsylvania Department of Education and later The Education Trust, Wil Del Pilar has advocated for policies supporting college access and success while sharing his journey as a first-generation student. His personal story connected to policy expertise has illustrated how lived experience can inform effective system change.
90. Yolanda Watson Spiva
As president of Complete College America and through other leadership roles, Yolanda Watson Spiva has championed initiatives addressing college completion while sharing her perspective as a first-generation graduate. Her advocacy connecting personal experience with system-level solutions has demonstrated how first-generation insights can drive institutional transformation.
91. Keith Witham
Through research and leadership roles at the Community College Research Center and later Gateway to College National Network, Keith Witham has developed strategies supporting student success while sharing insights from his first-generation background. His work bridging research and practice has demonstrated how evidence-based approaches can address barriers he experienced firsthand.
92. Vince Lampkin
Through the First Generation Foundation, Vince Lampkin has created platforms celebrating first-generation student accomplishments and connecting them with mentoring resources. His advocacy highlighting first-generation success stories has countered deficit narratives while providing role models for current students.
93. Sonja Montas-Hunter
Through leadership roles in TRIO programs and the Council for Opportunity in Education, Sonja Montas-Hunter has advocated for first-generation student support while sharing her own journey from TRIO participant to program director. Her career path has demonstrated how first-generation graduates often “pay it forward” by developing the next generation of students.
94. April Grayson
Through the Center for Community Change and other organizations, April Grayson has organized first-generation students to advocate for policy changes addressing financial barriers to college completion. Her grassroots leadership has demonstrated how collective action by first-generation students themselves can influence institutional and policy change.
95. LaVerne Evans Srinivasan
Through leadership roles at the College Board and later the Carnegie Corporation of New York, LaVerne Evans Srinivasan has championed educational pathways connecting K-12 and higher education for underserved students. Her work addressing transition points particularly challenging for first-generation students has influenced more seamless support systems.
96. Chris Metzler
As founder of the First Generation Harvard Alumni organization, Chris Metzler created platforms connecting first-generation graduates across class years to support current students. His initiative demonstrated how alumni networks specifically supporting first-generation students can provide social capital and mentoring that continuing-generation students often receive through family connections.
97. Rosanna Ferro
As Vice President for Student Affairs at Ithaca College, Rosanna Ferro has implemented support initiatives for first-generation students while sharing her own journey from the Bronx to academic leadership. Her administrative approach informed by personal experience has demonstrated how first-generation perspectives at leadership levels can create more responsive institutional practices.
98. Tomás Magaña
As founder of the FACES for the Future Coalition, physician Tomás Magaña has developed healthcare career pipeline programs supporting first-generation students from disadvantaged communities. His work creating systematic pathways to health professions has demonstrated how profession-specific interventions can address representation gaps in critical fields.
99. Mary Deane Sorcinelli
Through the Center for Teaching and Faculty Development at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mary Deane Sorcinelli has developed faculty development initiatives addressing first-generation student needs. Her work helping professors understand and support diverse learners has influenced teaching approaches that better serve first-generation students.
100. Joshua Abreu
Through the First Generation Student Union and other organizations, Joshua Abreu has organized first-generation student advocacy efforts addressing campus climate and support services. His grassroots leadership has demonstrated how student-led movements can drive institutional change while building community among first-generation students.
Conclusion
The individuals highlighted in this list have collectively transformed higher education’s approach to serving first-generation college students—from identifying this population’s unique needs to developing comprehensive support strategies, from expanding access through policy initiatives to creating more inclusive campus environments, from producing research that deepens our understanding to sharing personal narratives that humanize the first-generation experience. Their diverse contributions across research, practice, policy, institutional leadership, and advocacy illustrate the multifaceted effort required to create meaningful educational opportunity.
From Vincent Tinto’s foundational theories of student persistence to Michelle Obama’s powerful personal example and advocacy, from Arnold Mitchem’s tireless defense of TRIO programs to Michael Crow’s institutional transformation efforts, from Lyndon Johnson’s landmark Higher Education Act to Anthony Jack’s nuanced analysis of diversity within the first-generation experience—these influential figures have progressively deepened our understanding of first-generation student experiences and created more effective support structures.
Despite their diverse perspectives and sometimes competing emphases, these influential figures converge around certain principles: the importance of addressing both academic and non-academic factors affecting student success, the value of proactive support rather than waiting for students to seek help, the necessity of making implicit expectations explicit, the benefit of building on students’ strengths rather than focusing on deficits, and the recognition that institutional practices must adapt to serve diverse students rather than expecting students to assimilate to unchanging systems.
As higher education continues to serve growing numbers of first-generation students in an era of increasing economic inequality, the insights of these influential figures provide both theoretical frameworks and practical approaches for creating more inclusive and effective educational environments. Their collective work reminds us that expanding college opportunity requires more than simply opening doors—it demands transforming institutions to ensure that all students can thrive.
By integrating insights about effective teaching, supportive campus environments, adequate financial resources, culturally responsive practices, and student engagement, these influential figures have created a rich, multidimensional understanding of first-generation student success that continues to evolve through ongoing research, practice, and advocacy. Their legacy lives on in the millions of first-generation graduates whose lives have been transformed through education and who now contribute their talents and perspectives to our society and economy.
