Supporting First-Gen Students in Higher Ed

Career Transition for First Gen

Navigating First-Gen Challenges in Education

Navigating Peer and Resource Networks

Cultivating a First Gen Community

Empowering First Gen Professionals

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2211036/open_sms">Send us a text</a>Lisa Rivera, the  director of First Generation Student Initiatives at Suffolk University, joins us to share her journey from being a first-gen student in Florida to making her mark in higher education. Listen as Lisa recounts how the AVID program and her mentor, Ms. Dennison, were pivotal in her path to Allegheny College. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and supportive educational programs, sparking curiosity about how such resources shape first-generation students' academic journeys and beyond. Transitioning from college to career can be a daunting experience, especially for first-gen students. Lisa opens up about her early professional hurdles, from working multiple jobs to make ends meet to the unexpected challenges she faced at a temp agency. Her narrative highlights themes of resilience and adaptability as she navigated job hunting and career building without prior internships. Through Lisa's experiences, we explore how first-gen students can leverage curiosity and a willingness to learn in creating their professional paths, even when things don't go as planned. More about Lisa Rivera <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamriv/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamriv/</a> lisa.rivera@suffolk.edu Lisa Rivera, EdM, is the inaugural Director of First-Generation Student Initiatives, joining the Center for First-Generation &amp; Educational Equity at Suffolk University in November 2022, where she leads initiatives to enhance programming and support for first-generation students, faculty, and staff.A first-generation college graduate and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) alumna, Lisa earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts and Women’s Studies from Allegheny College in 2014 and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with a concentration on Higher Education Administration from Boston University in 2019.Previously, Lisa spent seven years at Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, where she advanced through roles in admissions, student affairs, and career development. She supported the student lifecycle from recruitment to career entry, including facilitating admissions cycles, coordinating student affairs and student organization programming, and delivering career readiness guidance, including teaching lectures on preparing for career and residency interviews and leading an annual career fair, integrating student support with strategic planning to enhance retention and success.An advocate for first-generation students, Lisa has co-advised Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha) chapters, the national honor society for first-generation college students, at both Boston University and Suffolk University, participated in allyship and developed championing first-generation programming at both universities for faculty and staff audiences, and presented at the NASPA national conference on support for first-generation graduate and professional students and the BACHA’s local conference on career readiness for higher education professionals.With a commitment to equity and access, Lisa continues to foster community and create pathways for first-generation success inside and outside of the classroom.Please help others find this podcast by rating and reviewing wherever you listen! You can find me at <a href="https://www.firstgenfm.com/">https://www.firstgenfm.com/</a> and on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenschoen/">LinkedIn</a>. My email is jen@firstgenfm.com.

Send us a text Lisa Rivera, the  director of First Generation Student Initiatives at Suffolk University, joins us to share her journey from being a first-gen student in Florida to making her mark in higher education. Listen as Lisa recounts how the AVID program and her mentor, Ms. Dennison, were pivotal in her path to Allegheny College. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and supportive educational programs, sparking curiosity about how such resources shape...

Guiding Students From First-Gen Student to First-Gen Professional with Lisa Rivera