Roger Williams University Celebrates First-Gen Students with Week of Belonging and Empowerment

December 4, 2025By Jordan J. Phelan '19

Members of the RWU community come together to discuss first-gen experiences, exchanging stories and support during the inaugural networking luncheon.

BRISTOL, R.I. -Roger Williams University marked First-Generation College Celebration Week with a full slate of programming to recognize the experiences of students, faculty, and staff who are the first in their families to attend college. At the heart of the week was RWU's inaugural First-Generation Networking Luncheon. The event brought first-gen Hawks and their allies together in the Upper Commons to share stories, build new relationships, and celebrate the resilience and determination that define so many journeys.

Hosted by the Division of Equity & Inclusion, the luncheon served as both a community-building event and a powerful reflection of RWU's commitment to belonging and student success. The conversations that unfolded underscored the breadth of the first-gen experience at Roger Williams University, where the community represents a rich array of backgrounds, identities, and academic paths.

"Events like the First-Generation Networking Luncheon give first-gen students a space to see themselves reflected in one another - and give the rest of our community a chance to learn how to better support them," said Giana Amaral, Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Student Success. "Students connected with first-gen faculty and staff, heard powerful stories, and saw allies show up with intention. My hope is that First-Gen Week sparks ongoing programming and deeper conversations throughout the year."

Henley Ballou and Giana Amaral don their first-generation college graduate shirts as they welcome attendees and open the networking luncheon.

Henley Ballou, Assistant Director of Queer and Trans Student Initiatives, added that the week's programs highlight how woven first-generation students are into the fabric of RWU. "First-gen students exist in every identity, major, student group, and office on campus, and First-Gen Week is a powerful reminder of that. Building an inclusive community means connecting around our shared experiences while showing up for one another across our differences. Effective allyship strengthens belonging for everyone."

Finding Belonging Through Shared Stories

For many students, the luncheon offered a moment to be seen in a new way. Michael Jones, a sophomore International Businessmajor and Anthropology + Sociologyminor from Springfield, Mass., remarked that the event served as an important reminder of the power of shared stories.

"There is no telltale sign that someone is first-gen. We all speak different languages, eat different foods, have our own dreams, and come from different walks of life," Jones said. "Events like the First-Gen Luncheon help me understand that being first-gen is not an inhibitor, and it doesn't change the value of your degree. If anything, it gives you the opportunity to be overly optimistic because it is part of your learning journey."

Michael Jones shares his first-gen journey with faculty, staff, and fellow students, reflecting on how on-campus involvement helped him find his space and voice at RWU.

As a first-generation student and a senator on the Student Senate, Jones has used his position to advocate for visibility and support for students who, like him, arrived at college unsure where to turn or how to ask for help.

"I didn't know where to go when I needed access to a resource. I didn't know the right time to ask for help, and I genuinely thought coming to college meant figuring it out as I went," he said. "It wasn't until I got involved on campus that I realized there was no need for a struggle. There are so many people here willing to help, and the first step is a conversation."

Jones now works to ensure that incoming students feel that same sense of connection, making it a priority through his roles as an Orientation Advisor, Resident Assistant, and Admission Ambassador to meet first-generation students and families where they are.

Guiding Students with Lived Experience

For faculty members who were once first-gen students themselves, the luncheon offered a moment to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with students, trading stories, questions, and the kinds of unguarded reflections that don't always surface in the classroom. Professor of Psychology Scott Benson, who openly shared his own path through higher education, remarked that returning to an event like this as a first-generation college graduate carried personal significance.

"As a first-gen student, it's hard to know when you've 'made it,'" Benson said. "When you're first-gen, you don't have a clear indication of success, and it can be incredibly meaningful to hear from others who've walked the same path. Students need to know they've already achieved something remarkable by being here."

Professor Scott Benson speaks in depth with two students, offering candid reflections on his own first-gen experience and the challenges he navigated in college.

Benson emphasized that his own college experience - navigating financial aid deadlines alone, feeling unprepared for unspoken academic expectations, and learning how to ask for help - shapes how he mentors RWU students today.

"I'm used to working with people who feel unfamiliar with the process and unprepared for it," he said. "Helping students stay organized, how to study, and navigate registering for classes can make a big impact. For many students, these things are not intuitive, and without a strong network, it becomes even harder."

To Benson, one of the most valuable lessons students can walk away with is the importance of visibility and connection. "We know representation matters, but it's hard to 'see' first-gen," he said. "This event made that identity visible. It showed students they're not alone and that there are peers and faculty who understand what they're experiencing."

A Community Moving Forward Together

As First-Generation College Celebration Week came to a close, one clear message echoed across the conversations and connections that took shape: first-generation success is a collective effort. RWU's commitment to championing first-gen Hawks is rooted not only in providing resources, but in building a support system where students feel seen and are encouraged to thrive.

That sense of community, Ballou noted, grows stronger each time the university brings people together with purpose. "At RWU, we're working to create meaningful connections among first-generation students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the supporters who champion them every day through intentional programming, collaborative partnerships, and opportunities that bring first-gen voices to the forefront," they said. "Belonging grows when we listen to each other, uplift each other, and recognize the many ways first-gen students enrich this campus."