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Graduation and Retention Network

About Us

Our Vision

The First-Generation Center (FGC) will serve as a centralized hub to support the first-generation community — personally, professionally, and academically. FGC is an inclusive community that equips every first-generation student with the resources, guidance, and opportunities they need to excel in their journey within and beyond USC. Through collaborative partnerships, personalized support, and innovative programming, we will build a culture of resilience, belonging, and achievement ensuring all first-generation students reach their full potential and make a positive impact in their communities.

Our Mission

The mission of the FGC is to connect first-generation students with resources to successfully navigate their progress towards graduation, and to recognize the value and unique strengths they bring to USC and the community at large. The FGC promotes student support and advocacy, comprehensive programming, mentorship initiatives, connections to campus partners and resources, and a culture of scholarship and research.

 

Meet Our Team

LaNae' Budden pic

LaNaé Budden, Director, First-Gen Center

Dr. Budden is a proud first-gen college graduate, and is responsible for leading the First-Generation Center and connecting first-gen students with resources to successfully navigate their progress towards graduation.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Old Dominion University, a master’s degree in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. With over 20 years of experience in higher education in various administrative and executive leadership roles, Dr. Budden is most looking forward to creating another level of support for first-gen students to help them make the most of their Carolina experience.

briggsr@mailbox.sc.edu 

Melissa Kupfer

Melissa Kupfer, Assistant Director, First-Gen Center

Melissa supports the development of students’ academic and personal goals by providing opportunities for student engagement within the University community.

She earned her B.S. in Human Development and Learning (K-8) from the University of Memphis and her M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of South Carolina. Melissa joined USC in 2005 and has held a variety of student support roles during her employment. As a first-gen student herself she is invested in helping other first-gen students be successful in college and achieve their educational goals.

kupferm@email.sc.edu 

 

  • Stephen Thompson, Professor, Teacher Education & First-Gen Living and Learning Community Faculty Director | College of Education (Co-Chair) 

  • LaNaé Budden, First-Generation Center Director (Co-Chair) 

  • April Barnes, Assistant Vice President for Housing  

  • Teri Browne, Dean and Professor | College of Social Work  

  • Michelle Bryan, Associate Professor, Leadership, Learning Design, and Inquiry & Associate Vice President, Office of Access and Opportunity 

  • Matt Childs, Chair for the Department of History & Associate Professor for History | McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 

  • Althea Counts, Director of TRIO Programs  

  • Amy T. Coward, Director of Strategic Communications Instructor | School of Journalism and Mass Communications, College of Information and Communications 

  • Joey Derrick, Assistant Vice President and Director of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships

  • Jabari Evans, Assistant Professor | School of Journalism and Mass Communications, College of Information and Communications 

  • Quantina Haggwood, Clinical Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership and Policies | College of Education 

  • Haley Hatfield, Assistant Professor | School of Journalism and Mass Communications | College of Information and Communications 

  • Deb Hazzard, Associate Dean, Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement (AOCE), Full Professor (Professional Track), Management Department | Darla Moore School of Business 

  • Jamil Johnson, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Leadership, Learning Design, and Inquiry | College of Education 

  • Kirsten Kennedy, Associate Vice President for the Residential Experience 

  • Lara Lomicka Anderson, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and Dean of Undergraduate Studies

  • Dorian McCoy, Associate Professor, Department of Leadership, Learning Design, and Inquiry | College of Education 

  • Donald Miles, Executive Director of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics

  • Elizabeth Orehovec, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions

  • Silvia Patricia Rios Husain, Associate Vice President for Student Success

  • Charles Andy Schumpert, Instructional Faculty for Biological Sciences & Lab Coordinator | McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

  • Will Sheppard, Center for Student Engagement Director  

  • Mike Watson, Interim Associate Chair, Instructor for the Department of Retailing |College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management 

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