Professional News

Martin to Present at National Conference on Supporting First Generation Students

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 14, 2017) — University of Kentucky First Generation Initiatives Program Coordinator Martina Martin will be presenting at NASPA's "Closing the Achievement Gap: Student Success in Higher Education Conference" being held June 15-17, in Washington, D.C. NASPA is a leading organization for student affairs professionals in higher education.

The focus of the 2017 NASPA "Closing the Achievement Gap" conference is on how student affairs practitioners can develop effective approaches to support students who struggle to complete their degree.

Martin will present with two colleagues — Rebeca Paz, associate director of K-State First and program coordinator of First Scholars at Kansas State University, and Cristina Castillo, program coordinator of First Scholars at Southern Illinois University.

Their workshop title is "Supporting First Generation College Students: Strategies for Empowerment and Success." The presentation will take place as a pre-conference workshop on June 15.

Martin, Paz and Castillo will provide a comprehensive overview of working with first generation college students. Additionally, they will share an in depth review of student development theories and presentation of best practices for supporting first generation students. The interactive workshop will provide opportunities for each participant to develop an action plan to serve first generation college students for their respective campuses.