$2.8 Million Gift Secures Funding for New First-Gen Fellows Program in College of Arts & Sciences

A new initiative will make it easier for students who are the first in their families to go to college to navigate the demands of undergraduate university life.

For students in the College of Arts & Sciences, the First Fellows Program will provide students with a cohort-based community, academic guidance, faculty mentors, connections to career pathways, and financial support for summer internships and employment opportunities. 

“I am overjoyed to announce the First Fellows Program,” said Dean Rosario Ceballo. “The First Fellows program will elevate first-gen students in the College of Arts & Sciences, building on their resilience, their commitment to academic excellence, and their sense of belonging as Hoyas.” 

By building upon the strength of the university’s existing programs that support first-generation and limited-income students, including the Community Scholars Program (CSP) and the Georgetown Scholars Program (GSP), the CAS First Fellows Program offers students additional support and access to mentors across our campus. 

For first-generation and limited-income students, attaining a college degree is one of the most viable routes to economic and social mobility. But despite an initial wave of support when students arrive on campus, many report feeling socially and academically isolated after their first year. 

This new program is made possible through a generous gift of $2.8 million, which will fully fund the program’s first cohort of students.

“We would not be able to make such a transformational impact without the collaboration, vision, and generosity of our alumni donors,” said Dean Ceballo. “The First Fellows Program is arriving at the perfect time. We’re excited to continue fulfilling our mission to care for the whole person and equip every Hoya with the necessary tools for success both inside the classroom and in the wider world.”

All first-generation students in the College of Arts & Sciences first-year class will be invited to join the First Fellows Program, for a program launch in fall of 2024