FIRST-GENERATION SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT
Mission Statement
The Office of First-Generation Support and Engagement seeks to support students with the social and academic adjustment to college via programming, social connections, and encouraging faculty engagement. The office works to create a culture where first-generation students are celebrated for the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they bring to our community.
As part of the Division of Student Enrollment, Engagement, and Success, the Office of First-Generation Support and Engagement provides opportunities for first-generation students to engage in programming and other support opportunities. Social programming exists with the goal of connecting students to the University, helping them cultivate a sense of belonging, and in creating a vibrant community that fosters pride in the first-generation student identity.
Educational programming offered by our staff and colleagues is developed to assist students with skills critical to student success, such as study skills, prioritization, time management, financial literacy, and leadership development.
Above all, our office exists as a landing space and a home for first-generation students. In short, if you don’t know who to ask to answer your questions, or where to start to solve your issue, ask us. We many not know the answer, but we can connect you with someone who can help.
The First-Gen Den
This lounge space is open and available to all members of the first-gen community (and their friends) Monday-Thursday 9am-7pm and 9am-5pm on Fridays. The space features both Mac and PC’s with all the software available in other Hofstra labs, a large table to study, eat, or game, and a lot of comfy seating to recharge both yourself and your devices.
All students are encouraged to visit the office – located in Room 221C Student Center – to ask any questions, say hello, or just hang out in the common area just outside the office. All students have swipe access to this suite.
About the Director
Russ Smith, EdD
Senior Assistant Dean of Students & Director of First-Generation Support and Engagement
Room 221A Student Center
Prior to being appointed as the first Director of the Office of First-Generation Support and Engagement, Russ worked in various roles within the Office of Residence Life at Hofstra for nearly nine years, most recently as the Director of Residential Education.
Originally from a very small town in Kansas, Russ was the first in his family to attend college, earning a degree in Film from Webster University in St. Louis, MO. In an effort to reduce his college loans, Russ became a Resident Assistant, while also working a workstudy job in the campus computer labs and a retail job at the local mall.
Upon graduation, Russ chose to continue his residence life career, obtaining a MA degree in Higher Education Administration from New York University, while holding a graduate assistantship at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Russ initially chose this path because the graduate assistantship provided housing, a stipend, and post-college financial security.
Following graduation from his Master’s program, Russ has worked in Residence Life Offices at The University of Redlands, Southern Connecticut State, and here at Hofstra. He launched Southern Connecticut’s First-Generation Living Learning Community in the fall of 2014.
Russ joined the Division of Student Affairs First-Gen Work Group in the spring of 2015, and founded and chairs the First-Generation Pride Committee at Hofstra in 2016. He launched Hofstra’s First-Generation Living Learning Community in the fall of 2018. In 2021, Russ earned a Doctorate in Education for his study entitled Welcome Home: The Efficacy of a First-Generation Living Learning Community.
Russ loves all things film and TV (Spanish director Pedro Almodovar is his favorite), collecting vinyl records, and buying more used books than he can ever read.
Reach out to staff committed to helping you navigate challenges, discover opportunities, and achieve your fullest potential.