Mississippi Christian University selected for FirstGen Forward Network Class of 2026
FirstGen Forward, the premier center for first-generation student success, has admitted Mississippi Christian University (MC) as a new member of its FirstGen Forward Network Class of 2026.
MC was selected for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for first-generation college students.
Stephanie Carmicle-Davis, vice provost of academic program support and director of student success at MC, said she is excited for the University to become a FirstGen Forward member.
“We’ve been working towards this membership since we began intentionally supporting these students three years ago,” Carmicle-Davis said. “It has been a labor of love, and I’m glad our efforts have been rewarded.”
Marilyn Tullos, MC student success coach and director of the FirstGen Success program, said membership in FirstGen Forward signifies MC’s commitment to first-gen students.
“We want to make sure our first-gen students are empowered to fully embrace their journey here,” Tullos said. “If you’ve not had a parent or a member of your family attend college, everything about university life is brand new. We want to mentor and encourage these students to make the most of their college experience.”
MC defines first-gen students as those whose parents, guardians or dependents have not completed a four-year degree. During the 2025-26 academic year, 339 undergraduate students at MC self-identified as first-gen students, representing about 11 percent of the undergraduate student body.
Ensuring that first-gen students feel connected to a university as steeped in tradition as MC can be challenging, Carmicle-Davis said.
“One can imagine how isolating it can feel if you don’t have a family connection to the university,” she said. “Under those circumstances, the campus culture could be a bit intimidating.”
To help combat this, Carmicle-Davis and Tullos have recruited several members of the MC faculty and staff who were first-gen students themselves to help newcomers start their own family tradition at MC.
“These faculty and staff members have been through the experience, so they know exactly how the first-gen students are feeling and can show them their future is limitless,” Tullos said. “They may be the first in their family to attend MC, but they aren’t the first ones to have this experience.
“There are people at MC willing to come alongside, mentor and support them in their journey.”
FirstGen Forward provides evidence-based approaches, data-informed strategies, professional development and research to build community and belonging through the FirstGen Forward Network. FirstGen Forward aims to help higher education embrace a student-ready approach, grounded in continuous improvement, to ensure first-generation students’ success in college, career and life.
MC joins more than 500 institutions of higher education, including two statewide systems, representing 48 states and the District of Columbia, in the network.
“We are excited to welcome Mississippi Christian University to the FirstGen Forward Network,” said Martina A. Martin, FirstGen Forward vice president. “Throughout the application process, MC demonstrated a clear commitment to advancing success for first-generation students, backed by a willingness to align strategy, data and campus-wide efforts for long-term impact.
“Their leadership reflects a meaningful investment in creating the conditions where first-generation students can thrive.”
As a Network member, MC’s interested faculty and staff can engage with peer institutions also working to create environments that improve the experiences and success of first-generation students. They will participate in monthly calls, professional development, goal setting, blog development, annual reporting and more activities.
“The nationwide network connects us with other universities so that we can compare how we’re doing,” Tullos said. “We can see national trends, what the data tells us about the success of our first-gen students, and how we can effectively connect and support this cohort of students. We want to make sure we align with the best practices.”
After successful completion of the Network Member phase, MC may progress to the second phase, FirstGen Forward Network Leader. Ultimately, all network institutions strive for national leadership as FirstGen Forward Network Champions.
“There is nothing quite like seeing a new generation of institutions step into this network with purpose and passion," said Dr. Stephanie J. Bannister, FirstGen Forward president. "FirstGen Forward exists because we believe institutions are strongest when they learn alongside one another, sharing evidence-based practices, working through challenges together, and advancing first-generation student success at scale.
“Mississippi Christian University is joining a community of practitioners doing exactly that, and the Class of 2026 represents a remarkable groundswell of energy and commitment. I know MC will be a meaningful contributor to what we build together.”
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