Our Partners
We are a diverse network of colleges and universities reshaping support for first-generation college students
Our Impact
We provide transformative support to first-generation students across the undergraduate journey and beyond
Our Approach
Through collaboration, we leverage the expertise of campus partners to achieve our collective goals
First-Gen First
In the United States, 54% of all undergraduates in the U.S. are first-generation college students. Of these first-generation students, only 24 percent will go on to attain a bachelor’s degree in four years compared to 59 percent of their continuing-generation peers. We’re rewriting that story, helping first-generation college students leverage their own strengths, including their innate capacity for resilience, creativity, and courage, for college success.
Our Approach
Kessler by the Numbers
1,020
Total Kessler Scholars
enrolled in 2024-2025
16
Partner Institutions
85
percent
of Kessler Scholars report a strong sense of belonging to the program.
97
of graduating Kessler Scholars complete at least one high-impact practice.
Our Partners
Ashleigh Kilgore
Class of 2025
University of Michigan
"The Kessler Scholars Program has reinvented my whole college experience. It has allowed me to build so many meaningful connections and find a community I belonged in. I have also leaned heavily on staff for support which has been essential to my college experience."
Luca Xia
Class of 2024
Queens College
"The Kessler Scholars Program, especially at Queens College, is a community for me. Queens College is great, but being a commuter school, it doesn’t always give me a sense of belonging. With the Kessler Scholars Program, I have friends who share the same goals as me and professors who help me develop my skills and interests in terms of career, academics and more. The word “community” really summarizes what Kessler Scholars means for me. It extends beyond friendship—it extends to social, academic and personal development. Kessler made me feel like I belong at Queens College."
Kelvin Kwaku Boakye
Class of 2024
Syracuse University
"My first encounter with Kessler was the summer before my freshman year and the cohort all met each other online. I was nervous going into college. When we had that first Zoom, it made it all a little bit easier. Then, when we had our first group meeting after school started, I remember being really excited because it was nice having a community, being able to say, “oh, I know her” or “I know him.” My best friend right now, I met her at that first Zoom. She’s from Ghana like me, and she’s studying public health. What are the odds?'"
Alex Solis
Class of 2024
Johns Hopkins University
"Being a Kessler Scholar here at Hopkins has truly enriched my experience, not only by allowing me to form a community with like-minded individuals who have the greater Baltimore community at the forefront of their minds, but also through providing truly beneficial guidance in navigating undergrad as a first-gen student, as well as offering professional development to prepare me as I begin to transition to life beyond campus."
Libby Willkomm
Class of 2023
Cornell University
"One of my favorite Kessler anecdotes was during my second month at Cornell when we had our Kessler inaugural dinner. It was fancy. I knew the donors would be there and everyone was dressed up. I was seated next to the president of Cornell, and I thought to myself, “this is absurd. I just got here. I’m just a freshman.” She asked me what she could do to reach more first generation students and was genuinely interested in me and my experience. The wildest moment though was at the end when everyone linked arms and sang the alma mater. On one side of me, I had the president of Cornell and on the other side, I had Fred Wilpon. We were singing together, and I thought to myself “how is this my life?” It was one of my most memorable moments at Cornell. "
Paula Garcia
Class of 2024
Cornell University
"The Kessler Scholars Program has truly made Cornell feel like home. Not only is it a group of students and staff who care about each other and can relate to each other, it is an opportunity to start college with a community. This group has provided me with opportunities that I never could have imagined and incredible support. I truly believe that being a part of the Kessler Scholars Program was a pivotal aspect of my time at Cornell."
Brianna Baliat
Class of 2024
University of Michigan
"The Kessler Scholars Program has been nothing short of transformative for me during my undergraduate years at the University of Michigan. This program has been a major source of community and provided me with a space where I could be vulnerable and share my experiences without fear of judgment. As a first-generation student, navigating university life often felt daunting and heavy at times, but I found solace in sharing my journey with my peers in the program who understood the unique hurdles that first-generation students face. Moreover, the Kessler Scholars Program has been instrumental in propelling me into leadership roles that have allowed me to give back to my community and uplift my peers. Through this program, I have been presented with many opportunities for personal and professional development, acquiring skills that will continue to benefit me in all areas of life. It's been a catalyst for growth and a testament to the power of vulnerability and community."
Nathalie Arbelaez
Class of 2024
St. Francis College
"The McGuire Scholars Program [part of the Kessler Scholars Collaborative] has been a lifeline for me throughout my college experience. Aside from the financial assistance it has provided me, the community, mentorship, and support have been incredible. I am also really grateful for Anthony Desiderio, program director at St. Francis College. As a first-gen student, I didn't have anyone in my life with whom I could have candid conversations about internships and how finances played a role in the trajectory of my career."
Haley Chavis
Class of 2025
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
"I have felt very cared for and taken care of in the Kessler Scholars Program, and I am very appreciative of it. I feel like it's good to be able to flip the script. I know I'm not the only one. I'm just going to be one of many from rural communities to graduate from college."