UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Registration is now open for the 2025 First-Gen Student Support Summit, set for Thursday, March 27. The annual event will bring together faculty, staff and student support professionals from across Penn State to explore new strategies for advancing first-generation student success.
This year’s theme, “From Insights to Action,” builds on past summits by focusing on practical, ready-to-implement strategies for supporting first-gen students. The event will feature a flipped-classroom approach, allowing participants to engage with asynchronous, pre-recorded lightning sessions in advance. These sessions will be available to registrants starting Monday, March 24. The summit will also include an in-person and livestreamed keynote address on Thursday, March 27, as well as both in-person and Zoom roundtable discussions.
The in-person component will take place at the Nittany Lion Inn, starting with lunch at noon and the keynote address at 12:30 p.m. Roundtable discussions, both by topic and by community of practice, will follow until 4 p.m. in-person and on Zoom. Attendees can expect discussions on topics such as first-gen program design, inclusive pedagogy, advising strategies, engagement practices, collaboration across departments and data-informed decision-making. Presenters will share approaches that translate research and insights into tangible tools to enhance student success.
This year’s keynote speaker is Sonja Ardoin, associate professor of higher education and student affairs, Clemson University. A first-generation student, Ardoin holds degrees from Louisiana State University, Florida State University and North Carolina State University. 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.
The Annual First-Gen Student Support Summit is organized by the Penn State Chaiken Center for Student Success. Register now at success.psu.edu.
The Penn State Chaiken Center for Student Success is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education and is located at 325 Boucke Building on the University Park campus. The center provides proactive support and tailored interventions to help undergraduate students develop essential skills, navigate academic transitions and foster a sense of connection and belonging. Other University Chaiken Centers are housed within the College of Information Sciences and Technology, College of the Liberal Arts, Penn State Abington and Penn State World Campus.
To learn more, visit success.psu.edu.