Necessary Steps: Road Map for First-Generation College Students Success

Yolanda Beamon holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Illinois Springfield. Beamon has spent time researching, teaching, and consulting in areas of diversity, leadership, student success, first generation students and families, retention, LGBTQA communication, and spirituality. She has a strong passion for researching and teaching student leadership, iY Generation, and first-generation college students. Student leadership, retention, and student success are the crux of her passion in the field of higher education. Currently, she is the Director of New Student Orientation and Parent Relations at the University of Illinois Springfield.

Clarice Ford holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Fielding University and a Master’s Degree in Multicultural/Diversity Education from Antioch University. Ford has researched, taught, and/or consulted in areas of Greek life, diversity, leadership, student success, first-generation students and families, race and ethnic relations, retention, relationships, cultural adaptation, African American males, international students, LGBTQ communication, juvenile/adult corrections, and spirituality. She has facilitated workshops on working with college students in religious and secular organizations nationwide, student and academic affairs and diversity. Ford has made numerous presentations and authored articles on college success for first-generation and African American males. She is the author of the book “Pass the P’s Please” and host of a weekly radio show on WLJX radio heard by many on issues of relationships, spirituality, education, and overcoming obstacles. Ford is currently the Executive Director of Diversity Center and Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Ser vices at the University of Illinois Springfield.