Skip to Main Content

First-Generation Faculty/Staff

First-generation student initiatives logo.

The First-Generation Faculty/Staff Initiative aims to elevate the visibility of MU faculty, staff, and academic leaders who were themselves first-generation college students. The First-Generation Faculty/Staff Initiative is a network of first-generation professionals committed to supporting first-generation students. They are active in their respective unit, promote their first-generation identities, and advocate for the first-generation community at University of Missouri. This is a collaboration project between the Office of First-Generation Student Initiatives and the MU Libraries.

Our goals:

  • Greater transparency of first-generation faculty/staff across campus
  • An established community of First-generation faculty and staff professionals who come together to network, learn, and grow with each other
  • Create meaningful connection with other First-gen professionals who share similar identities

Contact:

For questions or to get involved, please email Selena Meints.

Upcoming Book Club Meetings 

April 21, 2025 at 12:00pm - 1:00pm

  • We meet in Ellis Library 114A.
  • We will be discussing First-Gen-a memoir. If you have not read it yet, you can try to get it for free as an audio book on Spotify if you have premium. 

March 17, 2025 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm

  • We meet in Ellis Library 114A.
  • This month’s article to discuss is linked here. Chosen by Stephen Klien, it discusses the NACE website about the effects of high impact experiential learning (internships and study abroad) on 1st generation students.
  • Don't forget that we will be reading First-Gen-a memoir. Read at your own pace. Make sure to put yourself on the hold/waitlist through our interlibrary system or use Spotify Premium to get it as your one free audio book this month. We will discuss this in our April meeting, since May gets busy with finals/graduation!

February 19, 2025 at 12:00pm - 1:00pm

  • We have decided to meet once a month in Ellis Library 114A and discuss one article chosen by a member of the book club.
  • This month’s article to discuss is linked here. Chosen by Selena Meints, First-Generation Initiatives Coordinator. This is a great first article discussing the actual definition and the nuances behind it. The general theme of the articles we will be discussing is about First-generation students (could be about student success, high-impact practices, graduation/retention rates, sense of belonging, anything timely that you see in the news, etc.).
  • Don't forget that we will be reading First-Gen-a memoir. Read at your own pace. Make sure to put yourself on the hold/waitlist through our interlibrary system or use Spotify if you like audiobooks! We will discuss this in our April meeting, since May gets busy with finals/graduation!