First-Gen Student Support Summit

2025 First-Gen Student Support Summit

Registration is now open for the 2025 First-Gen Student Support Summit on Thursday, March 27, 2025! This annual event brings together faculty, staff, and advocates from across Penn State to explore strategies for supporting first-generation student success. This year’s Summit embraces a flipped-classroom approach, featuring asynchronous, pre-recorded "lightning" sessions, an in-person and live-streamed keynote speaker, and interactive roundtable discussions available both in-person and on Zoom.

Register for the 2025 First-Gen Summit

Registration is open until March 21, 2025.

Theme & Agenda

The 2025 First-Gen Student Support Summit theme, "From Insights to Action," builds upon insights from past Summits to emphasize practical, ready-to-implement strategies for faculty, staff, and professionals supporting first-generation students. This year’s Summit responds to the growing demand for tangible tools that enhance first-gen student success across Penn State.

Flipped-Classroom Format

To maximize engagement, the Summit will feature asynchronous, pre-recorded "lightning" sessions, available to all registrants starting Monday, March 24. These short, impactful sessions will explore key topics such as:

  • Transforming Engagement for First-Gen Students of Color
  • Fostering Inclusive Pathways for First-Gen STEM Students
  • Preparing First-Generation Students for Content-Heavy Courses
  • The Influence of Summer Bridge Programs on First-Generation College Students
  • And more!

Live Summit Events | Thursday, March 27

The in-person component of the Summit will take place at the Nittany Lion Inn, beginning with lunch at noon, followed by the keynote address at 12:30 p.m. The keynote will be livestreamed, allowing virtual attendees to participate.

After the keynote, attendees will engage in interactive roundtable discussions, available both in-person and on Zoom. These small-group conversations will provide a space to connect with presenters, debrief pre-recorded sessions, and explore strategies for implementation. Discussion topics include:

  • Building a Sense of Belonging for First-Gen Students
  • High-Impact Practices & First-Gen Student Engagement
  • Recognizing the Diverse Experiences of First-Gen Students
  • Navigating Policy Changes: The Impact of Executive Orders on First-Gen Students
  • From Insights to Action: Turning Knowledge into Practice

Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to join roundtable discussions by community of practice, such as faculty, academic advisors, student affairs professionals, and administrators, to explore how first-gen success strategies apply within their specific roles.

The in-person event will conclude with a networking happy hour, providing a chance to continue conversations and foster cross-campus connections in a relaxed setting.

Circle image of the keynote speaker

Keynote Speaker

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Sonja Ardoin, Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs from Clemson University. A first-generation student, Dr. Ardoin holds degrees from LSU, Florida State, and NC State. She considers herself a scholar-practitioner of higher education; she served as an administrator for 10 years before shifting to the faculty in 2015. Her research focuses on social class identity, college access and success for rural and first-generation college students, student and women’s leadership, and career preparation and pathways in higher education and student affairs.