Goodwin University is proud to announce its selection to the FirstGen Forward Class of 2026 and is now set to launch its own initiative, the First-Gen Collective.
Goodwin’s designation as a FirstGen Forward university reflects the institution’s ongoing commitment to supporting first-generation learners. During the 2025-2026 academic year, first-generation students accounted for 61% of the University’s student population.
This year, the University also launched the First-Gen Collective, an institutional initiative focused on creating experiences and sharing stories that promote the success, inclusion, and visibility of first-generation students and graduates.
“We are honored to be awarded recognition by the FirstGen Forward Network,” said Goodwin University Founder and President Mark E. Scheinberg. “First-generation students shape our community with their resilience, ambition, and dedication to breaking barriers. As an institution that proudly serves nontraditional learners, our first-generation students and alumni demonstrate our mission in action.”
Many first-generation students navigate unique challenges as they pursue higher education, including limited access to family experience and guidance related to college. Recognizing and elevating their experiences is essential to fostering inclusive campus communities and advancing student success. Founded by The Suder Foundation and NASPA, FirstGen Forward is a leading source for promoting first-generation student outcomes through research, evidence-based practices, data-informed strategies, and professional development opportunities. Goodwin’s induction into the FirstGen Forward Network places the University among 470 institutions nationwide to receive this honor.
“We are excited to welcome Goodwin University to the FirstGen Forward Network,” said Martina A. Martin, vice president at FirstGen Forward. “Throughout the application process, Goodwin University demonstrated a clear commitment to advancing success for first-generation students — backed by a willingness to align strategy, data, and campus-wide efforts for long-term impact. Their leadership reflects a meaningful investment in creating the conditions where first-generation students can thrive.”
As a newly inducted member of the FirstGen Forward Network, Goodwin will join a national community of institutions committed to advancing first-generation student success. Through continued collaboration and campus-wide initiatives like the First-Gen collective, the University will build upon its longstanding commitment to empowering first-generation students and helping them achieve their educational and professional goals.
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Bri Gagné is a content developer at Goodwin University, bringing backgrounds in literary studies, creative storytelling, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and social justice. They earned their bachelor’s degree in English Literature, Film Studies, and Gender Studies from University of Connecticut and a master’s in Elementary Education from Eastern Connecticut State University.
After teaching English abroad and locally, Bri transitioned to a full-time writing career, contributing to the University’s educational narratives and brand-building efforts. They are currently earning their Master of Fine Arts in Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing at Emerson College.