First Generation Connections
Welcome to the First Generation Connections program! Our goal is to ensure that all students, including first-generation, receive the tools they need to be successful at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ. Being first-gen at LU means your parents or guardians did not complete a four-year college or university degree in the United States.
Research shows that the barriers to success for first-generation students are not just academic. Social, emotional, and physical barriers can be just as impactful. We invite the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ campus community to join us as we build a network for first-generation students to thrive and grow.
Fall 2025 Events
First Gen Info Tables
Sept. 16, Oct. 21, & Nov. 11
First Gen Meet-Ups
Homecoming Tailgate
Friendsgiving
Live Oak Ballroom
First Generation Student of the Month
August 2025
Shirlesia Sanders
Business Management
Senior, Houston
Being nominated as a First-Gen student means everything to me. I’ve been working since I was 16, pushing through every challenge with faith and determination, and this moment is a reminder that all the late nights, sacrifices, and silent prayers were not in vain. I’m proud to be the first in my family to walk this path and to show that anything is possible when you don’t give up.
Advisory Council
Dr. Wilma R. Jackson, Co-Chair
Director
Strategic Initiatives
Andre Favors, Co-Chair
Instructor
Communication and Media
Dr. Gabriel Crosby
Assistant Vice President
Student Success
Pamela Comer
Director
McNair Scholars Program
Aaron Hanlin
Associate Director of Recruitment
Office of Admissions
Dr. Ashley Dockens
Assistant Provost, Academic Innovation and Quality Assurance
Associate Dean, Policy and Procedure, College of Graduate Studies
Amy Jones
Coordinator
Center for Teaching and Learning Enhancement
Celine Do
LU Alumni, HR Coordinator
Provost Umphrey Law Firm
Zelda Glenmore
Assistant Director
Housing and Residence Life
Ben Kern
Director, Recreational Sports
Dr. Janeal White
Internship Coordinator and Assistant Professor
Family Studies Program
Kierra Bridgewater
Licensed Professional Counselor
Student Health Center
Shaqueta Lewis
Manager, Workforce Programs, LIT
Dr. Maegan Collins
Chair, LIT General Education and Developmental Studies
Adjunct Faculty, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ
Contact Us
Dr. Wilma R. Jackson
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Email: wjackson10@lamar.edu
Phone/Fax/Email:
Phone: (409) 880-7169
Fax: (409) 880-7131
Email: sicr@lamar.edu
Office Hours & Location:
Mon-Fri: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
912 West Virginia
Beaumont, Texas 77705
Mailing Address
PO Box 10308
Beaumont, Texas 77710
Physical Address:
912 West Virginia
Beaumont, Texas 77705
