{"id":167893,"date":"2026-08-10T08:59:42","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T12:59:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/?p=167893"},"modified":"2026-08-10T09:02:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T13:02:25","slug":"wright-state-recognized-for-commitment-to-improving-experiences-and-advancing-outcomes-of-first-generation-college-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/2026\/08\/10\/wright-state-recognized-for-commitment-to-improving-experiences-and-advancing-outcomes-of-first-generation-college-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Wright State recognized for commitment to improving experiences and advancing outcomes of first-generation college students"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A<\/a>

Wright State has been named to the FirstGen Forward Network, providing access to support the success of first-generation students. (Photo courtesy of the Academic Engagement Team)<\/p><\/div>\n

FirstGen Forward nam<\/span>ed Wright State University<\/span> to its <\/span>Class of 2026, joining a select national network of institutions committed to enhancing the first-generation student experience<\/span> through evidence-based practices and data-driven strategie<\/span>s,<\/span> leading to increased retention and graduation rates.<\/span><\/p>\n

During Wright State\u2019s 2025-26 academic year, 28.9% of undergraduates and 45.8% of first-year students at the Dayton campus self-identified as first-generation students.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Three<\/a>

The Academic Engagement Team provides support and campus resources, hosts events and offers a peer mentoring program. (Photo courtesy of the Academic Engagement Team)<\/p><\/div>\n

The university\u2019s Academic Engagement Team<\/a> supports first-generation students by providing support and campus resources in the Raiders First Student Center, the Peer Navigator mentoring program<\/a>, hosting celebrations aligned with National First-Generation College Celebration Day and recognizing students\u2019 accomplishments at a special graduation ceremony.<\/span><\/p>\n

First-generation students made up 64.29% of the Fall 2025 first-year cohort in the university\u2019s Take Flight<\/a> program \u2014 a needs-based program for Ohio students which offers up to 18-credit hours of tuition, a laptop, textbook vouchers and a dedicated success team.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWright State is proud to join the FirstGen Forward Network and strengthen our commitment to supporting first-generation students,\u201d said Catherine Hernandez Hogan, assistant vice provost for academic engagement. \u201cThis opportunity connects us with institutions across the country that are developing innovative strategies to help students succeed academically, personally and professionally.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Academic Engagement Team was crucial in my first-year success in college,\u201d said Leslie Perez-Soria, a sophomore nursing major<\/a> and first-generation student. \u201cBeing a first-generation student typically means figuring out how college works on your own \u2014 how to apply for financial aid, how to study for tough classes, how to best manage your time \u2014 but having the support of the Academic Engagement Team at Wright State, including the peer navigators and Catherine (Hernandez Hogan), made me feel welcomed and seen on campus. I always had the information I needed to help me succeed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

To join the network, institutions must be an accredited two- or four-year institution, secure leadership support and establish a campus leadership team. Prior to this application cycle, only three other schools in the southwestern Ohio region had joined the network.<\/span><\/p>\n

After receiving support from President Sue Edwards and other university leaders, Wright State established a steering committee to guide the application process. The committee included Laura Luehrmann, Ph.D., vice provost for undergraduate education; Tom Webb, associate vice president for accessibility;\u00a0and Destinee Biesemeyer, director of student advocacy and wellness; and Hernandez Hogan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited to welcome Wright State University to the FirstGen Forward Network,\u201d said Martina A. Martin, vice president at FirstGen Forward. \u201cThroughout the application process, Wright State demonstrated a clear commitment to advancing success for first-generation students \u2014 backed by a willingness to align strategy, data and campus-wide efforts for long-term impact. Their leadership reflects a meaningful investment in creating the conditions where first-generation students can thrive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As a Network Member, Wright State\u2019s steering committee can engage with more than 500 peer institutions in 48 states working to create environments that improve the experiences and success of first-generation students. They will also participate in monthly calls, professional development, goal setting, blog development, annual reporting and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

The FirstGen Forward Network provides a three-phase approach to scaling holistic first-generation student success by engaging and empowering higher education institutions to transform the first-generation student experience, advance academic and co-curricular outcomes, and build more inclusive institutional structures. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After successful completion of the Network Member phase, institutions may progress to FirstGen Forward Network Leader, in which institutions receive an evidence-based and research-supported framework of actionable priorities supported by monthly workshops, diagnostic tools providing critical institutional insight, robust data-sharing as part of the national Postsecondary Data Partnership, guidance of expert coaches along each step of the experience and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

The network\u2019s impact is reflected in student outcomes. For the inaugural 2021-22 National Leader Cohort, FirstGen Network reported a 58.4% four-year graduation rate \u2014 34.4 points above the national average.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

Nearly 50% of the Dayton campus’s first-year students during the Fall 2025 Semester self-identified as first-generation. (Photo provided by Leslie Perez-Soria)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cEarning my degree means everything to my family and I,\u201d said Perez-Soria. \u201cIt represents growth, stability and a future that wasn\u2019t guaranteed. It\u2019s proof that all the work that goes into graduating leads to something bigger \u2014 for me, a career where I can help people, make an impact and honor the sacrifices that my parents made to get me here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBy participating in this network, we will strengthen our ability to identify, implement and assess high-impact practices that improve retention, persistence and college completion of first-gen students,\u201d said Hernandez Hogan. \u201cOur goal is to ensure that these students not only have access to higher education, but that they thrive and complete their degrees with the skills, support and sense of belonging needed for long-term success.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is nothing quite like seeing a new generation of institutions step into this network with purpose and passion,” said Stephanie J. Bannister, Ph.D., president of FirstGen Forward. \u201cFirstGen Forward exists because we believe institutions are strongest when they learn alongside one another \u2014 sharing evidence-based practices, working through challenges together and advancing first-generation student success at scale. Wright State University is joining a community of practitioners doing exactly that, and the Class of 2026 represents a remarkable groundswell of energy and commitment. I know Wright State will be a meaningful contributor to what we build together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wright State recognized for its commitment to helping first-generation students succeed through proven strategies that improve retention and graduation rates. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":167930,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[722,2048,725,715,2119,2061],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-167893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-enrollment-management","category-home-news-sidebar","category-news","category-university-college","category-undergraduate"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/88"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167893"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167893\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":168026,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167893\/revisions\/168026"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/167930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=167893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=167893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}