Support Team & Mentorship Opportunities
Your First-Gen Support Team
The First-Gen Advisory Committee is composed of members of our faculty and staff who were first-generation students or who are strong supporters of first-gen students. They will provide guidance to the Center for First-Generation Students at 91pornÔ´´. Please feel free to reach out to them for advice on your first-gen experience!
- Dr. G. Christopher Hunt, Vice President and Dean for Equity and Inclusion; co-chair of the advisory committee
- Dr. Carol Traupman-Carr, ’86, Vice Provost and Vice President of Accreditation and Assessment; Professor of Music; co-chair of the advisory committee; Founder and President, Alpha Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for First-Generation College Students
- Dr. Anize Appel, Executive Director for Global Education, Associate Dean for Study Abroad
- Ms. Shelley Bauder, Assistant Director of LifeSkills, Volleyball Coach
- Dr. Jane Berger, Professor of History
- Mr. David Brandes, ’20, Chief Information Officer
- Ms. Monica Cottrell, Director of Academic Advising
- Ms. Christina Crawford, Assistant Director of Career Development
- Dr. Cecilia Fox, Professor of Biological Sciences; Director of the Neuroscience Program
- Dr. Allison Holliday, Associate Professor of Chemistry
- Dr. Diane Husic, Dean of the School of Natural and Health Sciences, Professor of Biological Sciences
- Mr. Austin Long, Office Manager, FMPC
- Dr. Nicole Loyd, Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students; Secretary, Alpha Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for First-Generation College Students
- Dr. Rebecca Malinski, Assistant Professor of Sociology
- Mr. Gregory Meyer, Dean for Community Wellness
- Ms. Erika Mondok, ‘91, Executive Director of Transfer Recruitment
- Ms. Taylor Patino, Career Development Strategist
- Dr. Michelle Santiago, ‘96, Assistant Professor of Clinical Counseling
- Ms. Kristina Scesa, Director of Civic Engagement
- Ms. Naree Simmons, Director of Financial Aid Services
- Ms. June Thompson, Administrative Assistant, Hall of Sciences
- Ms. Jessica Weaver, Leadership Gift Officer, Family Philanthropy
- Ms. Elizabeth Yates, Associate Dean of Students
- Ms. Brittany Yenser, Director of Event Technology
Academic Mentors
Research shows that first-gen students are less likely to engage with faculty outside of the classroom––but we understand that faculty connection is important to a first-gen student's success. You might be surprised to discover that so many of your favorite instructors and advisors were first-generation students!
That's why we have designed programs to help facilitate interactions between first-gen students and faculty. Each undergraduate program has identified a first-gen faculty mentor to provide guidance and support to our first-gen students. Please seek them out to share ideas and discuss opportunities with faculty mentors! (Those marked with an * were first-gen college students themselves.)
- Anthropology: Dr. Akbar Keshodkar*
- Art: Professor Angela Fraleigh
- Biological Sciences: Dr. Cecilia Fox*
- Computer Science: Dr. Ben Coleman
- Education: Professor Huijing Wen
- Environmental Studies: Dr. Diane Husic*
- Health Science: Dr. Mary Anne Riopel*
- History: Dr. Jamie Paxton, Dr. Sandy Bardsley, and Dr. Heikki Lempa*
- Mathematics: Dr. Nate Shank
- Neuroscience: Dr. Cecilia Fox*
- Nursing: Dr. Dawn Goodolf* and Dr. Taylor Grube*
- Political Science: Dr. Faith Okpotor
- Psychology: Dr. Robert Brill and Dr. Stacey Zaremba
- Public Health: Dr. Cathy Coyne*
- Rehabilitation Sciences: Dr. Alison Roll, Dr. Mary Anne Riopel*, and Dr. Krista Rompolski
- Sociology: Dr. Akbar Keshodkar*