FirstGen Forward is a national non-profit dedicated to fostering success for first-generation students by partnering with higher education, philanthropy, business, government, and individuals to eliminate the completion gap and expand post-college opportunities.

As the Design and Digital Innovation Manager, I helped shape FGF’s creative vision—blending strategy and design to ensure every publication, digital ad, academic guide, or video aligned with the mission of advancing first-generation college student success. One of my first major projects was leading the organization’s rebrand, transitioning from the Center for First-generation Student Success into the new standalone FirstGen Forward. This work included developing fresh brand assets, creating new materials, and updating existing research to ensure a cohesive and unified identity.

Following the rebrand, I focused on building a state-of-the-art website that could serve as a hub for research, publications, news, and communications. This new platform not only streamlined how content was shared but also strengthened FGF’s ability to connect with its audience through marketing emails, publications, and multimedia content.

The results were significant: the rebrand and new site drove a sharp increase in engagement, leading to nearly 14,000 research downloads within the first year of launch. Additionally, by leveraging HubSpot CRM to optimize email outreach, we grew the organization’s marketing contacts from 2,000 to over 6,000 in the same timeframe.