Alumna Delivers Empowering Message during First-Generation Week Celebration

During the first week of November, St. John Fisher University joined colleges and universities across the United States in celebrating first-generation students and their accomplishments. In recognition of First-Generation Week, Fisher welcomed Stephanie Woodward ’10, Fisher alumna and Disability EmpowHer Network founder and executive director, to campus to deliver a keynote talk.

Woodward, who was a first-generation student, graduated from Fisher and later attended Syracuse University College of Law. She has served as an advocate for disability rights throughout her career, including through her work with Disability EmpowHer Network, which helps girls living with disabilities pursue their goals.

During her guest lecture on Friday, Nov. 8, Woodward spoke to students about her work, as well as how being a first-generation student impacted her journey.

“Being accepted and just navigating campus, learning how financial aid worked, was big for me,” Woodward recalled. “And that allowed me to eventually gain the confidence to study abroad, which was huge for me, being able to get that experience, live in a whole new culture. I’ve been able to adapt and go to law school, and pursue a graduate degree, something that no one in my family has ever done. And to start your own organization is not an easy thing to do and not something that you do going in lightly. So, having all of these skills built up and knowing that I could believe in myself and do things that I wasn’t sure I knew how to do, that really all started, foundationally, here at Fisher”

Woodward’s visit to Fisher was made possible through a grant from the Council for Opportunity in Education and FirstGen Forward, with support from TIAA and the Strada Education Foundation.

In addition to Woodward’s presentation, First-Generation Week at Fisher included the annual First-Generation College Celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Students and employees gathered to reflect on what it means to be a first-generation student, facing and overcoming the unique challenges often presented to these students, and how they are making a positive impact on the campus and beyond.

“I think that first-gen scholars are doing really important work just by being here, by the nature of applying to college and getting in and seeing it through,” said Woodward. “And I can’t wait to see all of the incredible things that first-gen students do after they graduate, because this is just the first of many firsts for them, and they’re going to change the world.”

Fisher is grateful for TIAA and the Strada Education Foundation’s generous sponsorship of the First-Generation College Celebration. The Celebrate First-Gen grant equipped the University with the resources to move First-Gen Forward by raising awareness of first-gen college students’ identities, strengths, and experiences.