Nationally recognized women’s health advocate and bestselling author will explore navigating social mobility and the emotional challenges faced by first-generation college students.

Former Obama administration aide Alejandra Campoverde will present this spring’s Gates-Ferry Distinguished Visiting Lecture at Centenary University on Monday, Feb. 24, at 6 pm in Taylor Memorial Library on the University’s campus. In a fireside chat format, Campoverde will explore navigating social mobility and the emotional challenges faced by first-generation college students. Her presentation will be followed by a Q&A and book-signing. 

A nationally recognized women’s health advocate, Campoverde is the author of FIRST GEN: A Memoir about the emotional challenges faced by first-generation college students who are navigating social mobility. The bestseller inspired first-generation and low-income college students, winning the CALIBA Martin Cruz Smith Award, designation as an OWL Award finalist, and selection to the 2024 COE Opportunity Matters Book Club. 

A graduate of the University of Southern California and the master’s program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Campoverde was the first deputy director of Hispanic media in the Obama White House. She has also made significant contributions to the documentary and public health spheres, producing and appearing in the PBS documentary Inheritance and founding the Latinos & BRCA initiative.

“Alejandra Campoverde is a dynamic speaker with an important message for all students, especially those who are first-generation college students,” said Director of First Year Experience Diana Alzate, who is organizing the event. “Through her personal experiences as a first-gen student, she shares an inspirational story of resilience, leadership, and determination. This event will greatly enrich our students’ academic and personal development.”

Centenary has a deep commitment to advancing the lives of first-gen students and those facing financial and family challenges. Last summer the University was selected as a FirstGen Forward Network member for its commitment to improving experiences and fostering success for first-generation college students. In addition, Centenary was named a Top Performer in Social Mobility in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Colleges listing. The publication’s social mobility ranking measures how well higher education institutions graduate large proportions of economically and educationally disadvantaged recipients of federal Pell Grants, the majority of which are awarded to students whose adjusted gross family income is under $50,000 annually. The social mobility ranking specifically tracks each college’s success at graduating Pell Grant recipients and achieving equitable outcomes for students from underserved backgrounds.

ABOUT THE GATES-FERRY DISTINGUISHED VISITING LECTURE
The Gates-Ferry Distinguished Visiting Lecture at Centenary University recognizes the dedication to the University of Joseph R. Ferry, trustee from 1948 to 1976 and treasurer of the Board of Trustees for 20 years. It was established to set high standards and goals for students and faculty, and to enrich the quality of life on the Centenary campus.

ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY
Centenary University offers extraordinary learning opportunities that empower students to develop intellectually, emotionally, and interculturally—keys to career and personal success. Under the leadership of President Dale Caldwell, Ed.D., the University aspires to advance its reputation as a world class institution offering innovative programs, including the world’s first Master of Arts in Happiness Studies, to lift the future for our students and local communities.