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Transforming lives through educational opportunity

About Us
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Supporting a diverse student body in higher education

About Us
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Providing guidance, scholarship and support services

About Us

Pre-College

Providing educational resources, training, and support to area high school students.

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Undergraduate

Supporting existing undergraduates in achieving their academic goals.

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Graduate

Growing the academic pipeline and diversifying the academic population.

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Dr. Ruben Canedo and UR alum Mariffer Acosta in the Kearns Center living room.

Featured Photo

Kearns Center Welcomes Featured Speaker Ruben Canedo to Campus

The David T. Kearns Center helped plan several events to celebrate First-Gen Fall at the University of Rochester, October 24 - November 8. First-Gen Fall concluded with the First-Gen Day of Celebration featuring a keynote address by Dr. Ruben E. Canedo, Director of Strategic Equity Initiatives at the University of California, Berkeley. Pictured left to right, Canedo and UR alum Mariffer Acosta in the Kearns Center living room, November 8, 2024. Acosta introduced Canedo at the event. (Photo: Alexa Olson, University of Rochester)

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A collage of photos of first generation students at the University of Rochester with 1st as a text overlay.

Student Spotlight

First-generation students find mentors, resources, and niches at Rochester

About 20 percent of Rochester’s undergraduate student body are the first in their family to make the higher education leap.

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Feature Story

Several Events Planned for ‘First-Gen Fall’ at the University of Rochester

First-Gen Fall is officially underway following a kick-off event on Thursday, October 24.

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Dr. Baique speaking to a conference room full of people.

Message from the Director

First-Gen Fall Reflection

This past November 8, our campus came together to celebrate National First-Generation College Celebration Day—a day dedicated to honoring the journeys, challenges, and triumphs of first-generation students across the country.

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22full-time employees

The Kearns Center has 22 full-time employees who help run the federally grant funded programs that support individuals pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and professional education.

1500+students served

The Kearns Center supports well over 1,500 students from high school through doctorate annually, with lots of educational experiences, social and emotional support, financial resources, and connections to support their lifelong dreams.

5federal TRIO programs

The Kearns Center administers five federal grant funded programs that help provide educational guidance, scholarships, and support services to students who are low-income, first generation, or from historically racialized backgrounds.

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