SUNY Chancellor King Announces Inaugural First-Generation Doctoral Scholars Consortium

November 10, 2026

Program Will Help Doctoral Students Who are the First in their Family to Graduate College to Navigate Their Academic Journey

Inaugural Consortium Includes 26 Doctoral Students from Eight SUNY Campuses

Albany, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced the inaugural First-Generation Doctoral Scholars Consortium. The consortium, made up of 26 doctoral students from throughout the SUNY System, provides support and mentorship to help doctoral students navigate their academic journey, strengthen their professional awareness, and understand the expectations of the doctoral education process.

"A vital part of SUNY's commitment to student success is ensuring that first-generation college students at all levels feel supported and welcomed on their campuses," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Our first-generation students are inspirations to their classmates, showcasing what can be achieved through an affordable, excellent education at SUNY. There is a place at SUNY for every New Yorker, and we are proud to provide our students with the resources they need to thrive."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Through the support of Governor Hochul and the State Legislature, SUNY has been able to support students at every level as they work to achieve academic excellence and help move our state forward. We applaud the students selected for the First-Generation Doctoral Scholars Consortium and thank them for helping to inspire and uplift others to excel in their academic journeys."

First-generation doctoral students bring exceptional skills and intellectual strength which – with guidance, resources, and ongoing support help them succeed at this high level of education. First-generation doctoral students often face a unique set of challenges that stem from navigating unfamiliar academic and social territory without the benefit of familial experience in higher education. Research indicates that first-generation doctoral students can encounter academic, financial, cultural, and social challenges, and may rely heavily on personal resilience and aspirational resources. Research also suggests that holistic academic, social, and psychological support can help promote more equitable outcomes in higher education. There is a lack of formal programs focused on first-generation doctoral students, despite the fact they represent approximately one third of doctoral degree recipients. 

SUNY's First-Generation Doctoral Scholars Consortium will provide resources geared towards the specific needs of first-generation doctoral students, help students create community, and foster strong mentoring relationships, The consortium is designed to increase scholarly knowledge, confidence, and clarity about the doctoral journey, enhance doctoral scholars' skills in navigating the doctoral journey, build cross institutional networks, and strengthen SUNY's leadership pipeline across academic and professional pathways. 

The consortium will run through April 2027 and will combine in-person convenings and virtual sessions. The first in-person convening of the inaugural cohort of First-Generation Doctoral Scholars took place at SUNY System Administration in Albany and featured graduate students from eight SUNY campuses including the State University of New York at Albany, State University of New York at Binghamton, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York State College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Cornell University, New York State College of Human Ecology at Cornell University, New York State School of Industrial & Labor Relations at Cornell University, SUNY Empire, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Doctoral students selected to be a part of the First-Generation Doctoral Scholars Consortium include:

State University of New York at Albany

  • Victoria Aidoo
  • Paria Baninoe
  • Kingsley Kofi Boachie
  • James Flomo-Kellen
  • Zeynep Keyif Sullivan
  • Yifan Liu
  • Oyeronke Ogunbayo
  • Emmanuel Oppong
  • Sharmilee Rajkumar Rajan
  • Susan Tomaski
  • Andrea Valarezo

State University of New York at Binghamton

  • Steven McKay
  • Yakubu Alhassan Zakaria

State University of New York at Buffalo

  • Alma Kanic Franco

New York State Colleges at Cornell University 

  • Tricia Alston
  • Jordan Johnson
  • Everlynn Khamjoi
  • Emily Ngo
  • Aanzan Sachdeva

SUNY Empire

  • Connor Murphy

State University of New York at Stony Brook

  • Qihui Fan
  • Mayi Gnofam
  • Nayla Lopez
  • Oyindamola Ogunfolakan
  • Rajee Tamrakar
  • Jennifer Tepan

State University of New York at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez said, "These first-generation scholars have each worked incredibly hard to become the first person in their family to pursue a doctoral degree. As they push the boundaries of knowledge through their research and scholarship, this consortium will provide support and community to help them succeed in their academic journey. On behalf of the University at Albany, I look forward to all that these scholars will accomplish."

State University of New York at Binghamton President Anne D'Alleva said, "Student success is the foundation of the Binghamton experience, and I'm glad to see SUNY taking steps in extending this principle to our first-generation doctoral scholars. I have long believed that academic excellence flows from students having their social, emotional, financial, and other needs met first. This holistic structure for first-generation doctoral students represents another milestone in equity, inclusion, and student success efforts at Binghamton and throughout SUNY."

State University of New York at Buffalo President Caroline Attardo Genco said, "As a first-generation college student who went on to earn a doctorate, I know firsthand what a difference guidance and a sense of belonging can make. UB's Alma Kanic Franco embodies the determination and fresh perspective that first-generation scholars contribute to research, and this program connects her and her fellow scholars with role models who have walked a similar road. I am delighted that UB is part of this consortium, and I applaud Chancellor King and SUNY for investing in the researchers, educators and leaders of tomorrow."

Empire State University President Lisa Vollendorf said, "We are so proud to have Connor Murphy represent Empire State University in SUNY's inaugural First-Generation Doctoral Scholars Consortium. Public higher education exists to expand access and opportunity for learners of all backgrounds and from all walks of life. First-generation doctoral students bring important perspectives and experiences to their scholarship. This consortium will provide the support, mentorship, and community to help them succeed and prepare them to make a lasting impact as scholars and leaders in their fields."

State University of New York at Stony Brook President Andrea Goldsmith said, "I am incredibly proud to see our outstanding first-generation doctoral students selected for this prestigious consortium. Stony Brook is committed to providing our undergraduate and graduate students with life-changing opportunities for upward mobility. The First-Generation Doctoral Scholars Consortium is a visionary mechanism to provide these brilliant doctoral students with resources and support to help them thrive in their graduate studies and in their careers. These inspiring students are not only breaking new ground for their families, but also generating new knowledge in their fields and finding innovative ways to advance discoveries that address humanity's most pressing concerns. We are grateful for SUNY's steadfast leadership and support of these ambitious students to equip them for success in their higher education journey."

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Higher Education Committee, said, "A first-generation student who reaches a doctoral program has already come a long way, often without anyone at home who has had a similar journey. Talent brought these students here. Knowing what to expect and whom to ask can help carry them through. This consortium connects 26 scholars with mentors and with one another, and those relationships can last well beyond graduation. I thank Chancellor King and SUNY for supporting them, and I thank these scholars for the example they set for the students who will follow."

State Senator Patricia Fahy said, "This innovative program will help usher in the next generation and give a new generation of doctoral students and academic leaders in New York the tools they need to succeed. Thank you to Chancellor King, the SUNY Board of Trustees, and Governor Hochul for recognizing the need to support doctoral students from the start of their journey to finish; when we invest in our students, they invest in us and in New York State."

State Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education said, "Being a first-generation student, let alone a doctoral student, comes with a lot of challenges. Having a mentorship program from SUNY via the inaugural Doctoral Scholars Consortium will only help our 26 scholars succeed and provide them with career readiness."

State Assemblymember Michael S. Cashman said, "New York State is home to many incredible scholars across all fields of study, and continuing to expand opportunities for growth and educational advancement helps us all thrive. From our doctors and pharmacists to our professors and consultants, SUNY continues to deliver for the next generations of learners. Congratulations to SUNY on establishing this program."

The First-Generation Doctoral Scholars Consortium builds on SUNY's dedication to supporting first-generation students and advancing student success. In 2025, SUNY launched the First-Year orientation grant program and a mentorship program for first-generation doctoral students, as well as partnered with First Gen Forward, a national organization that supports first-generation students. In addition, SUNY's Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program provides affordable excellence and comprehensive support to help students from low-income backgrounds who did not receive sufficient academic preparation in K-12 — many of whom are the first in their families to go to college — succeed in earning a degree. SUNY's Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) programs, the nation's leading college retention and completion models, provide students access to a wide variety of resources and support to help them overcome barriers that can prevent them from obtaining a degree, including comprehensive personalized advisement, academic support, career development activities, as well as funding to cover textbooks, groceries, transportation, and other costs of attendance.

About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.

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