Tanja Adonizio, MD, MHPE

Vice Provost for Student Affairs
Geisinger College of Health Sciences

Dr. Tanja Adonizio graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA before completing an internship in General Surgery at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA followed by an Emergency Medicine residency at Geisinger Medical Center. Following this, she served as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Presbyterian Medical Center, The University of Pennsylvania Health System. This is where she developed her interest in medical education while teaching medical students and residents. Dr. Adonizio began teaching at The Commonwealth Medical College now the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) with its first class in 2009. She also began career advising serving as the first Direct of Clinical Advising and then transitioning into the Associate Dean for Student Affairs role full-time in 2016. Her primary area of scholarly interest is in professional identity formation.

Joe Akob

Joseph A. Akob, “Joe,” is the current Executive Director of the Student Activity Association at East Stroudsburg University. He has been a dedicated member of the ESU community for 21 years, starting as director of the Recreation Center and being promoted 10 years ago to his current role. He currently oversees many components of campus life, directs major campus traditions, and serves on important taskforces that include Institutional Strategic Planning, Middle States Accreditation, and Divisional Assessment, to name a few. Akob holds an undergraduate degree from Towson State University in Maryland and a master’s degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta. With over 30 years of experience in higher education, he is a seasoned professional who began his collegiate experience in athletics before transitioning to his profession in student affairs. Notably, Akob was a first-generation college student and currently serves as the co-chair of First-Generation College student campus initiatives at ESU.

Elijah Blackwell

Bio coming soon.

Amanda Bonino

Bio coming soon.

Meredith Brown

Meredith Brown serves as a Career Advisor in the Office of Career Preparation and Experiential Learning at Rowan College at Burlington County. She is currently pursuing a Master's of Counseling in Educational Settings at Rowan University. Passionate about empowering students to reach their fullest potential, Meredith is dedicated to helping them develop intentional plans for their futures. She holds certifications as a Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP), Certified Life Coach, and Adult Mental Health First Aid Provider. She is student-focused and passionate in the work she does and enjoys changing the lives of others.

Brett Bruner

Dr. Brett L. Bruner (he/him/his) serves as the Assistant Vice President for Student Success & Persistence in the Office of the Provost at Wichita State University. In this role, he provides leadership for the Office of Online & Adult Learning, Media Resources Center, Office of Instructional Resources, Office of Student Success, Office of First Year Programs, Shocker Learning Center, F1RST Generation Coordinating Council, First-Year Seminars, and Provost's Retention Faculty Fellows. He has guided first-generation student success efforts at previous institutions in his roles as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management/Dean of Students at Missouri Western State University, Dean of Student Engagement at Arkansas Tech University, Director of Transition & Student Conduct at Fort Hays State University, and Director of Student Life at Baker University. He is actively involved with FirstGen Forward, serving as the Heartland Regional Community facilitator, a CatalystFIRST speaker, an editorial board member for the Journal of First-generation Student Success, and a past inaugural member of the Advocacy Group. He holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Baker University, an M.S. in College Student Personnel Administration from the University of Central Missouri, and a B.S. in Business Administration from Emporia State University.

Vincent DeMarro

Bio coming soon.

Kristen Denniston, she/her/hers

Kristen Denniston is a current first-generation student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM). She received Bachelor of Science degrees in Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology and Philosophy from the University of Scranton and a Master of Biomedical Science degree from GCSOM. She is passionate about first-generation student support and currently serves as one of the First-Generation Chairs for the Class of 2026.

Zachary Desjardins

Zachary Desjardins is a proud first-generation college graduate from the small, rural town of Chazy, New York. His passion for higher education stemmed from his time as a charismatic student leader at SUNY Plattsburgh where he received a B.S. in Social Work. He is a brother of Phi Mu Delta National Fraternity, Inc. He went on to earn a M.S. in Student Affairs Administration and a Masters of Public Administration from Binghamton University. Currently, Zachary is a University Academic Advisor for the Academic Support Center at the University at Albany, SUNY. He is a dedicated professional who isn't afraid of tackling the institutional and psychological barriers that exist for first-generation college students. Previously, Zachary served as a valued member of UAlbany's First-Generation College Student Success Task Force, where his insights and dedication propelled initiatives aimed at enhancing the academic journey of first-generation students. Presently, he is the Chair for NACADA's First Generation College Student Advising Community, a role that underscores his unwavering commitment to advancing equity and opportunity in higher education. Through his visionary leadership and tireless advocacy, Zachary continues to champion the cause of first-generation students, ensuring their voices are heard and their aspirations realized.

Alexa Dimaggio

Bio coming soon.

Tabbetha Dobbins

Tabbetha A. Dobbins is Dean of the Graduate School at Rowan University. She is also a full professor in the Dept. of Physics & Astronomy at Rowan University. She joined Rowan University in 2010. Her research programs are aimed at attracting and recruiting top students to the sciences using societally relevant energy-related and biomedical-related topics. She continues to do cutting edge research in applying synchrotron x-ray and neutron analysis to modern engineering problems in carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles, the hydrogen fuel economy, and polymer self-assembly. She has 30 scholarly publications in peer reviewed journals (h-index of 13).

Janet Duffield

Bio coming soon.

Andre Favors

Bio coming soon.

Leonard Farber, MA

Leonard Farber (pronouns are he/him/his) is the Director of Student Affairs for the School of Graduate Education providing leadership and support to the areas of career and student engagement. In this role, he assists students as they develop and enhance their career goals and support their professional career journey. These areas of support include leadership development, community involvement, service/volunteerism, and clinical experiences. In addition, Len serves as the vice chair of the First Generation Committee.

Nicole Ferentino, DC

Assistant Director, Center for Learning Excellence
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Before joining Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, I practiced as a Doctor of Chiropractic for 23 years, owning and operating a successful practice. My journey as an educator began as an adjunct professor of Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Scranton, where I discovered my love for teaching and mentoring students. This passion led me to my current role, providing academic support to medical students, including Step 1 and Step 2CK preparation, metacognition workshops, and innovative learning strategies. I oversee the Peer Mentor Program, Pre-Matriculation Program, Accessibility Services, and various initiatives designed to help students succeed academically and personally.

I am a proud member of GCSOM’s First-Generation Committee, CARES team, and Staff Council. I also serve as a class officer for the Medical School Council Representatives for the Class of 2028 and a member of the Big Events Committee. Additionally, I support our REACH-HEI Pathway Programs, helping create opportunities for underrepresented students pursuing careers in medicine. Additionally, I am co-chair of the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s Black Ties for White Coats Gala, an annual event that raises funds for student scholarships.

My own experience as a first-generation student fuels my dedication to creating an inclusive, supportive environment where students from all backgrounds can thrive.

Allison Gainer

Allison Gainer is a Licensed Associate Counselor and doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership at Rowan University. Serving with Rowan Online, she specializes in neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, and inclusive support, dedicated to helping diverse students find balance, purpose, and success in both academic and personal growth.

Cheryl Gunter

Bio coming soon.

Felipe Henao

Bio coming soon.

Tahla Henkel

My name is Tahla Henkel and I'm currently the VP of Fundraising of F1RST. I'm in my 3rd year studying Biological Sciences here at Rowan. I am the Treasurer of the Pre-Dental club, Public Relations Director for Habitat for Humanity, and apart of Pre-Health club. After graduating from Rowan I hope to pursue a career in Dentistry!

Tiffani Hinds, M.S., Ed.M.

Associate Provost for Student Engagement & Development Academic Affairs

Bio available here.

Mikhai Johnson

Greetings everyone, my name is Mikhai Johnson and I am the current president of F1RST. I am a Junior studying Computing and Informatics with a minor in Econ and a cybersecurity concentration. Aside from my role as president, I am also a student Success Coach and a House manager at one of the Rowan University's academic buildings. There are no words that I can say that will express how extremely proud I am of everyone and looking at what we are beginning to create is out of this world. I hope to be an understanding, proactive, and sincere president so that everyone’s confidence can be placed in me and First-Generation students can have a place of solidarity on campus!

Frederick Keating, Ed.D.

President, Rowan College of South Jersey

Dr. Frederick Keating, a first-generation student, became the first president of Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) on July 1, 2019, taking the helm of the new regional college following the merger of Rowan College at Gloucester County and Cumberland County College. From 2012 to 2019, he served as Rowan College at Gloucester County's seventh president. 

A distinguished educational leader with more than 30 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Keating has been recognized for his academic service and innovative leadership. Under his guidance, and in collaboration with the College’s stakeholders, RCSJ built a unique partnership with Rowan University as the flagship partner. His commitment to putting students first recently earned RCSJ the distinction as a 2025 Aspen Prize top 150 community college.

Joe Lizza

Bio coming soon.

Quintenilla Merriweather

Quin serves as the Associate Director for Student Equity, Access, and Retention as part of the Center for Diversity & Inclusion (CDI). Prior to joining AU, she worked in the field of Housing and Residential Life for ten years in a variety of roles and capacities. Working at a mixture of land-grant, religious affiliated, ivy-league, state systems, and private institutions Quin created spaces for equitable practices and resources that carved out a sense of belonging and connection for the students that she worked with and alongside. A huge emphasis of work for Quin was through equitable practices within Student Conduct and Community Standards, Title IX support, resources, and practices, Facilities Management to help troubleshoot after hours concerns, and establishing spaces of support for students traversing mental/physical health concerns, to name a few. Additionally, much of Quin's work within Residential Life & Housing has been on creating more equitable systems through hiring, onboarding, and ongoing positional development. She is an innovative and outside the box thinker that enjoys embarking on enriching dialogues that all can exchange ideas and thoughts that allow all to constantly find new ways to make systems work for the majority over the minority. Quin is a strategic and big picture thinker who uses historical context to examine how and what manner ideas, thoughts, actions, and conceptions fit in to serve a greater population and focus.

Anitza Quintero, MBA (she/her/hers)

I was born and raised in Miami, FL, and from a young age, I aspired to make a difference in medicine. I attended Florida International University on a full-ride honors scholarship (2017–2020), where I led medical mission trips to Peru and Costa Rica. After earning an MBA in Health Services Administration in 2021, I worked as an emergency case manager in a Texas border town, supporting over 100 unaccompanied minors daily. This experience deepened my commitment to compassionate care. In August 2022, I began my medical journey at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.

Monika Rohde

Bio coming soon.

Jessica Santiago

Dr. Santiago is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Modern Languages, Philosophy and Religion at East Stroudsburg University. Her focus is working with the undeclared meta major students. In addition, Dr. Santiago works with the dual enrollment students, peer mentors and co-coordinates the first gen initiatives on the ESU campus. Her research focuses on peer mentoring, first generation students and sense of belong. She has been dedicated to help support students at East Stroudsburg University for the past 15 years. As a first-generation college student, she is a huge advocate and enjoys supporting students.

Michelle Schmude

Dr. Schmude is the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Professor at Geisinger College of Health Sciences. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in business and history, earned a Master of Business Administration from Point Park University and received her Doctor of Education degree from Wilkes University.

Dr. Schmude is a faculty member in the Harvard Macy Institute’s Program for Health Professions Educators and President of the Academy for Professionalism in Health Care.  Her scholarly activities focus on professionalism, professional identity formation, admission trends, advising/mentoring/coaching, and using ePortfolios to promote and assess competency.

Amanda Thomas

Bio coming soon.

Jacquelyn Thomasson

Jackie Thomasson, LAC is a first generation college graduate with BA in Psychology from Rowan University and M.Ed from Widener University. After working in higher education as an advisor, she pursued a career in mental health and is currently working as a mental health therapist. Jackie has received additional training to focus on trauma specific therapy as well as the LGBTQIA+ community.

Ricky Urgo

Ricky Urgo, M.S. (he/him) is a first year doctoral student in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan, pursuing his PhD in Higher Education; Organizational Behavior & Management. He also serves Johns Hopkins University as the Senior Systems Administrator, Student Success and Advising Systems Support Manager. Ricky's research agenda spans Organizational theory and systems level approaches, SES, Socialization, First Generation and Working class experiences, DIJE, and more. Ricky can be reached via email at rickurgo@umich.edu.

Angela VanDijk

BDr. Angie VanDijk, who currently serves as the Senior Director of FIRST@DU, at the University of Denver, has over twenty years of experience in higher education including teaching, coaching, and advising roles at the University of Utah, CUNY's Hunter College, Columbia University, and the University of Colorado. She earned a Doctorate in Education at the University of Colorado and is a former Robert B. Sturm Mountain States Leadership Fellow. Her research interest is in spatial and ecological systems theories - observing where college students study and analyzing how such environments impact learning, identity, sense of belonging, and academic success. Outside of higher education, Dr. Angie serves as a Planning Commissioner for Commerce City and is a former member of the Commerce City Cultural Council. A certified yoga instructor, MBTI practitioner, and academic coach, Dr. Angie lives in Commerce City, Colorado with her firefighter husband and teenage son.

Reggie Walker

Dr. Reggie Walker, a former EOF student, is a graduate of Rider University where he received his Bachelors in Communications and a Masters degree in Organizational Leadership in Higher Education. He received his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Saint Peter's University. With 20 years of professional experience in higher education he has focused primarily on the success of underrepresented, first generation and low income college students. These professional experiences have included tenures within EOF programs at Monmouth University and Montclair State University, while also serving as an adjunct professor at Montclair State University. He currently serves as the Director for The Educational Opportunity Fund Program at Rider University and an adjunct professor at both Rider University and The College of New Jersey. Outside of his professional work in higher education, Dr. Walker, a proud man of the faith, is a playwright, author community activist and motivational speaker who is married to his college sweetheart Zuri Walker. Together they are raising two beautiful and intelligent children, Guy and Ryder Walker. As Dr. Walker sees it, GOD has given him the assignment to assist others in breaking free from cycles and mindsets that don’t allow them to be the individuals that GOD has created them to be.

Dr. Valencia P. Walker (She/Hers)

Dr. Walker joined Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in January 2023 as the Vice Dean for Health Equity and Inclusion. A physician leader within organized medicine, Dr. Walker is an Executive Committee member for the AAP’s Section on Minority Health Equity and Inclusion (MHEI) and former Program Chair for MHEI. In 2022, she was elected to the Administrative Board for the AAMC’s Council on Faculty and Academic Societies after previously serving as the Central Region Representative for the AAMC’s Group on Diversity and Inclusion. As a practicing neonatologist, Dr. Walker champions the elimination of health inequities for pregnant people and their infants. This includes her position as co-founder and president for Birthing the Magic Collaborative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Black birthing people with the knowledge and confidence to navigate pregnancy and the birthing experiences.

Janeal White

Dr. Janeal White equips students for careers strengthening families through education, service, and advocacy. Her passion for understanding the conditions in society that contribute to homelessness led her to explore poverty's impact on educational attainment. As a result, she has embraced a paradigm of constructivism and andragogy and specializes in creating dynamic online learning experiences for first generation, nontraditional, and marginalized students. She is the Assistant Professor of Family Studies at Lamar University.

Marcus White

Marcus White has long championed first-generation students and serves as the program coordinator for Brothers Achieving Excellence (BRAVE) at Rowan College of Burlington County, where he was recently awarded the college Barons Best award for his outstanding hard work, commitment, loyalty, innovation, service to the community, and student-first disposition. Mr. White's positive guidance fosters belonging through empowering experiences such as: The BRAVE Men of Color Summer Institute, Cafe Connect, Barbershop Talks, and BRAVE Considerations, and BRAVE Adventures. His passion for supporting historically underrepresented and multicultural students of marginalized backgrounds in higher education where systemic barriers commonly hold them back has made significant impact and gives first-generation students a chance to excel in life. A dedicated leader in higher education, he presents on: mentorship, academic advising, structured study, professionalism, financial literacy, leadership, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Mr. White encourages first-generation college students to pursue academic excellence, realize their potential, and fulfill their purpose through self-actualization. Marcus White earned his Masters in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education from Rider University and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, specialization in Management from The College of New Jersey.

Christina Pantoja Williams

Dr. Christina Pantoja Williams serves as the Director of Pre-College Programs at Millersville University. She is passionate about student access and success in urban high schools and higher education. She has extensive experience working with and supporting underrepresented, first- generation, and marginalized students and families. In 2018 she created the Ville First-Generation program at Millersville University. She earned her bachelor's degree in Sociology at Millersville University, her master's degree in educational leadership from Temple University, and completed her Doctorate degree at West Chester University. Christina is a first-generation, Latina student who benefited from access, scholarship, and bridge programs that have opened doors to make her dreams possible. Christina prides herself on telling students that life isn't linear but more like a roller coaster, filled with ups, downs and crazy turns.

John Woodruff

John Woodruff, MS Health Education, is Senior Director of the Accessibility Services and Co-Director of the Center for Neurodiversity at Rowan University. He coordinates campus services for students with disabilities and manages transitions for students entering college. John holds an MS in Health Education from St. Joseph's University and a BS in Business Administration from St. Francis University (Loretto, Pennsylvania). Woodruff is co-author of two books including Creating Inclusive Library Environments; and College Success for Students on the Autism Spectrum: A Neurodiversity Perspective. John's professional career reflects over 41 years of education, training and administration of programs for persons with disabilities.