Welcome from Dr. Shelley Dempsey, Assistant Provost for Graduation and Retention
Welcome to the University of South Carolina where we are proud to boast a significant population of First-Generation students, faculty, and staff. As Gamecocks, we pride ourselves on the ability to participate as a community of learners who support each other and celebrate the small victories along the way to graduation.
As evidence of this culture of support, we are in the active process of opening the inaugural First-Gen Center on the USC campus to serve anyone who identifies as first generation. Through a faculty-led Living and Learning Community, opportunities for mentoring, and partnerships and collaborations with academic and administrative units, we will be able to serve first generation students better than ever and also provide a venue for faculty and staff to support these students along their journey to degree completion.
We need your help! If you are a student, faculty, or staff member who wants to help us prepare for the First-Gen Center launch, please reach out to Garnet@sc.edu. If you are a faculty or staff member who was a first gen student and would like to stay up to date on opportunities to be involved, please complete this form and we will send you a sticker or pin to advertise your proud First-Gen status.
To all members of the First-Gen community, thank you for your contributions to our campus. Let’s keep going together!
Meet Our Staff
Dr. LaNaé Budden is a proud first-generation college graduate and serves as the inaugural Director of the First-Generation Center at the University of South Carolina. In this role, she has the unique opportunity to develop initiatives to support first-generation students by connecting them 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.
Melissa Kupfer serves as the Assistant Director for the First-Generation Center at the University of South Carolina and 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.
First-Gen Center Committees
- Jessica Allison
- Lara Lomicka Anderson
- Jennifer Asouzu
- Laquanda Baker
- Marilee Birchfield
- Charles Bloom
- Shelley Dempsey
- Morgan Edlin
- Adrienne Foster
- Xavery Hopkins
- Rushondra James
- Erica Lake
- Helen Le
- Bryan Scheffler
- Sonya Singleton
- Amanda Therrell, Co-Chair
- Kay Thomas
- Kyana Thompson
- Audra Vaz
- Dana Woodward, Co-Chair
- Lara Lomicka Anderson
- April Barnes
- Ashley Dantzler
- Shelley Dempsey, Chair
- Helen Le
- Curtis Pernell
- Amanda Therrell
- Catherine Wiggins
- Dana Woodward
- Brandi Anderson
- Lara Lomicka Anderson, Co-Chair
- Ava Baber
- April Barnes, Co-Chair
- Shelley Dempsey
- Pinkney Epps
- Amber Falluca
- Maria Hickman
- Joe Jones
- Sarah Kelly
- Helen Le
- Meg Lipinoga
- Jared Logan
- David Mahatha
- David Martinez
- Brian McCaster
- Morgan Ruebusch
- Amanda Therrell
- Lara Lomicka Anderson
- Charlie Ball
- Althea Counts, Co-Chair
- Shelley Dempsey
- Mai-Ling Francis
- Ed Gatzke
- Deborah Hazzard
- Keren Herran
- Cassandra Jones Havard
- Helen Le, Co-Chair
- Dollie Newhouse
- Spencer Platt
- Mandi Schlegel
- Zo Sediqi
- Michael Stovall
- Suzanne Sutton
- Rachel Williams
- Karen Worthy
- Lara Lomicka Anderson
- Jerel Arceneaux
- Shannon Blake-Lynch
- Karen Brown
- Matt Childs
- Althea Counts
- Shelley Dempsey
- Lauren Epps, Co-Chair
- Tharangi Fernando
- Maryah Fram
- Amanda Heinsman
- Alison Leach Hughes
- Helen Le
- Elise Lewis
- Sam McMillion
- Cierra Pinckney
- Helen Powers
- Amanda Therrell, Co-Chair
- Julian Williams
- Paulia Williams
First Forward
The University of South Carolina is honored to be named a First Forward Institution by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrations (NASPA) for our work with first-generation students.