First-Generation Mentors are part of Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha) either through Faculty, Staff, Alumni, or Honorary membership status. They not only support students in Tri-Alpha but are a resource for all first-generation students at Southwestern University.

Faculty

• Adriana Ponce, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Sociology
• Bryan Kauma, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of History
• Emily Niemeyer, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry

Staff

• Anna Castillo, M.A., Senior Associate Director of Campus Recreation
• Amalia Merino, Ph.D., Hispanic Academic Success Coordinator
• Dave Seiler, M.Ed., Senior Director of Academic Success and Advising
• Jennifer Frias, M.A., Academic Success Coordinator
• Randall Ischy, B.A., Project Director for Violence Against Women Act
• Serena Bettis*, Associate Director of Alumni Relations

Alumni

• Adrián Gilberto González ’25
• Caroline Rose Reed ’25
• Chelsey Vianee Rocha ’25
• Eric Salinas ’25
• Jamal Collins ’25
• Kaelyn Austin Connelly ’25
• Lila Goicoechea Milam-Kast ’25
• Riley Bryce Wolfe ’25
• Terri Ann Ray ’25
• Vanessa Lynn Villarreal ’25

---

Faculty/Staff Eligibility Requirements

Invitations to join are sent out by the Chapter Advisor in February. Induction typically takes place during the last week of classes in the spring semester.

• you must have earned at least a Bachelor Degree,

• neither of your parents (nor step-parents nor legal guardians) completed a bachelor’s degree prior to your completing one (if they completed a bachelor’s degree subsequent to yours, that does not matter for this purpose), and

• you must be serving in Higher Education at the time of your induction.

---

Faculty/Staff Membership Benefits

• Ability to mentor undergraduate first-generation college students

• Access to Local Chapter and National LinkedIn Groups

• Certificate of Membership & Pin upon Induction

• Identifies you to employers, professionals, and graduate schools as a champion of first-generation college student success

• Local Chapter Mentoring Opportunities

• Sense of belonging within a first-generation focused community from all academic disciplines