Getting to know our students personally is one of the most joyful aspects of my job as president. During May 13 Commencement Exercises, I had the honor of handing diplomas to hundreds of new graduates, and I recognized many of the smiling faces as they approached me to complete their college journey.

Even more gratifying was the fact that approximately half of the graduates were the first in their families to earn a college degree. In the last five years, 52 percent of Neumann’s first-year students have been first-generation students.

"In the last five years, 52 percent of Neumann’s first-year students have been first-generation students."

The path to a college degree is not easy for these young women and men. They have to navigate higher education without the benefit of a road map that a parent could provide. They experience the stress of tuition payments, balancing academics with part-time jobs and campus activities, and scheduling classes that fulfill the credit requirements of their major.

Fortunately, Neumann University offers a nurturing environment for first-generation students. Our faculty are more than subject-matter experts in the classroom. They are mentors who counsel, cultivate confidence, and challenge students to reach their potential.

I have lost count of the number of students who have told me that a faculty member encouraged them to get out of their comfort zone and test their intellectual and leadership skills. Every one of them has been grateful for the advice.

In this issue of Accent, you will read the stories of several first-generation students who represent — more powerfully than any collection of data points or statistics — the impact of this Franciscan university on the lives of those who have the values and work ethic to achieve their dreams.

All they need is a college that emphasizes critical thinking and supports them with encouragement and care. That combination, my friends, is Neumann’s wheelhouse.

Dr. Chris Everett Domes

President