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From the President: Celebrate First-Generation College Day on November 6

November 3, 2025

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

On November 6, I invite you to celebrate National First-Generation College Day, a day close to my heart as both your interim president and a proud first-generation student myself.

Ours is a community enriched by a large population of first-generation students. In fact, this academic year, more than a third of Southern's student body -- both undergraduate and graduate -- identify as first-gen. National First-Generation College Day pays tribute to the extraordinary achievements and resilience of students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education. For many first-generation students, this path is marked by perseverance and the ability to overcome challenges others may take for granted. These students carry with them their dreams and the hopes of their families and communities, making their accomplishments even more inspiring.

On Thursday, November 6th, I invite you to:

  • Attend an inspiring keynote talk – “Processing Pain: Turning Lived Experiences Into Legacy” – with award-winning journalist, publicist, and Southern alum Stacy Graham-Hunt, ’06 (11:00am – 12:15pm, ASC Theater)
  • Indulge in an amazing Campus Lunch Celebration (12:30pm – 2:30pm, Engleman B121)
  • Join an Interactive Workshop – “Writing the Book That’s Been Living Inside You” with guest speaker Stacy Graham-Hunt, ’06 (3:30pm – 5:00pm, Engleman B121)

More information about these activities can be found here. Your presence and active participation will send a clear message that the aspirations of our first-generation students are to be celebrated.

If you are first-gen yourself, you’re invited to share your story here. We would love to hear from you! If you're not first-gen, you can still join in the day's festivities to show that you are part of a community that is helping to make our first-gen students' academic journeys as successful as possible.

Thank you for your dedication to making education accessible to all.

Sincerely,

Dr. Sandy Bulmer
Interim President