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 Lamar University. 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 LU campus community to join us as we build a network for first-generation students to thrive and grow.
Spring 2026 Events
First Gen Meet Ups
First Gen Friday
First Gen Connections
Awards Ceremony
Recreational Sports Center
First Generation Student of the Month
March 2026
Jessye Brown
Family Studies
Senior, Silsbee
I'm proud to be a first-generation college student because every step I take represents not only my hard work, but the sacrifices and dreams of my own parents. Navigating college without a roadmap has taught me resilience and independence. Being first gen means breaking barriers and creating opportunities that once felt out of reach. Being nominated means everything to me because it shows my hard work and my parents' sacrifices have really paid off.
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
Anh Phan
Assistant Director, Study Abroad and Student Exchange
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
Abbie Flores
Assistant Director, Housing and Residence Life
Arthur Gilmore Jr.
Senior Academic Advisor, Lamar University Football
Ben Kern
Director, Recreation and Wellness
Dr. Janeal White
Internship Coordinator and Assistant Professor, Family Science
Kierra Bridgewater-Flanagan
Licensed Professional Counselor, Student Health Center
Shaqueta Lewis
Manager of Workforce Programs, Lamar Institute of Technology
Dr. Maegan Collins
Chair, LIT General Education and Developmental Studies
Adjunct Faculty, Lamar University
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
