Helping First-Generation Students Thrive

First-generation students can face unique and challenging barriers in higher education. Colleen Cohen, SIS/MA '25, and Johnnie Lee Fielder, SIS/MA '25, understand this well.

Cohen, a first-generation graduate student from Jamaica, and Fielder, a first-generation graduate student from New York, have experienced first-hand the challenges of being the first in their families to attend graduate school. For Fielder, those challenges involved not having anyone in her family to talk to about getting a master's degree and navigating a new learning system. For Cohen, it meant charting uncertain waters as the first in her family to attend graduate school and get an education outside of her home country.

These experiences led Cohen and Fielder to help found and lead the First-Generation Graduate Society (FGGS), an affinity group for American University students who are the first in their families to attend graduate school.

Fostering First-Gen Community

The FGGS exists to advocate for the needs of first-generation graduate students at American University and cultivate a resource-sharing community that helps first-gen students thrive professionally, academically, and personally. First-generation graduate students from across all schools at AU are invited to join the FGGS, which is led by Cohen as president and Fielder as vice president.

To foster connection among first-generation students and share resources, FGGS provides programming and workshops focused on building networks and getting students set up for success. Whether it's formatting a résumé or building a stellar LinkedIn profile, Fielder stressed that the group is focused on providing a space for first-generation students to access the resources they need.

"What we're doing is cultivating a warm and welcoming environment for first-gen students to ask the questions that they think are silly to ask, the questions that they're afraid to ask, and to interact with people they would maybe never interact with," Fielder said. "That's the cool thing about being first-gen-it's not distinctive to a particular race, a particular religion, a particular gender, or even a particular background. You can have two people-one from Jamaica and one from the Bronx-look completely different and have completely different experiences, but what makes us come together is going on this graduate journey for the first time."

Students in FGGS stay connected through an active WhatsApp community, in which first-gen students across the AU community can share information, ask questions, and send opportunities.

"The group chat has been pivotal-not only in the way it welcomes people but in the way we can share opportunities with our students and customize the experience and language to them," Fielder said. "We all get emails that say, 'apply for this' and 'apply for that,' but it's different when you have a person who has a shared experience saying, 'I hope you heard about this opportunity, and I think you should go for it."

Cohen echoed a similar sentiment, explaining that FGGS is a "major community" for her that has provided resources to "navigate life as a student and as a professional." Knowing other international students at AU were having similar struggles as her, Cohen and the executive board members of FGGS have sought to create a safe space for first-generation master's students to build community.

Providing Pathways

During her days as an undergraduate student, Cohen was heavily involved in advocacy for first-generation students on campus at the University of Technology, Jamaica. That passion carried on as she began attending graduate school at SIS as a first-generation international master's student.

"What really pushed me to take up the mantle to be president of FGGS is the experience I have encountered as a graduate student at AU," Cohen explained. "It was difficult for me to acclimate. It was difficult for me to find a community to even answer questions I had regarding life outside of AU."

She added: "It was just so difficult as an international student to personally thrive while also pursuing a master's degree in a foreign country. I think that's what gave me the push [to lead FGGS], because I know that other international students are also having a very difficult time navigating life in another country."

Looking ahead, Cohen, Fielder, and other members of the FGGS Executive Board are actively working to expand partnerships with various organizations on campus, including the Center for Wellbeing and the Career Development Center. Coming this spring, FGGS has plans to host several workshops focused on resource sharing and networking, Fielder said.

To connect with FGGS on social media, follow them on their Instagram and LinkedIn pages. If you are a first-generation master's student at AU interested in joining the FGGS WhatsApp group, you can request membership through AU Engage. Students are also invited to join FGGS's upcoming event, "Fall Speaker Series: Get Inspired with Dr. Shatina Williams," at 8 p.m., November 21, in SIS 120.