Johns Hopkins University is hosting the 2025 First-Generation Limited-Income Consortium annual conference this week, under the theme "Our North Star Moment: The Promise and Challenge of FGLI Student Success in a Time of Uncertainty."
The national conference, which runs Tuesday through Friday, brings together administrators and faculty to build community, share insights, and develop promising practices that support first-generation and/or limited-income college students. About 30% of current Hopkins undergrads are first-generation and/or limited-income, up from 17% in 2013.
"Our FLI students are here at Hopkins because they are some of the most accomplished and promising young people in the world, and our academic community is enriched by their talent, perspectives, and experiences," said Rachelle Hernandez, vice provost for student affairs. "We are honored to host the FGLI conference—bringing together experts and innovators from across the nation to share knowledge, best practices, and scholarship that advances our shared commitment to ensuring a great university education is accessible to all students based on merit, not means."
The conference will open with a keynote panel featuring leading voices in policymaking, government advocacy, and media along with leaders and practitioners engaged in the national conversation on first-generation limited-income student initiatives. The panel will be moderated by Jenn White, host of 1A on WAMU. Joining her will be:
- Wil Del Pilar, senior vice president at The Education Trust
- Ernest Ezeugo, strategy officer for federal policy at the Lumina Foundation
- Julie Groeninger, assistant vice president of government affairs at Princeton University
- Nina Vazquez, community organizer for the Connecticut Center for Leadership and Justice
A faculty keynote presentation will feature Rashné Jehangir, founding director of the First Gen Institute at the University of Minnesota.
