Stephen F. Austin State University recently established the Nu Xi chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha, or Tri-Alpha, a national honor society for first-generation college students as well as faculty and staff who were first-gen college students. Nearly 50 students and eight faculty and staff were inducted into the inaugural cohort this month.
November 17, 2025 - As the number of first-generation college students continues to rise at Stephen F. Austin State University, so do the opportunities to recognize their success. With the establishment of the Nu Xi chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha, or Tri-Alpha, SFA’s first-generation students now have an honor society of their own.
“We are so excited to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of first-generation Lumberjacks,” said Dr. Ja’Von Long, Nu Xi chapter faculty advisor and director of student development and support at SFA. “As a former first-gen college student, myself, I know how much they’ve overcome just to enroll in college. To qualify for an honor society on top of that shows the excellence, resilience and leadership these students have and will carry with them beyond graduation.”
Nearly 50 first-generation college students were inducted into the inaugural cohort of SFA’s Nu Xi chapter this month. To qualify for Tri-Alpha membership, students must:
• be a current degree-seeking student at SFA
• come from a family in which neither parent earned a bachelor’s degree
• have at least 30 credit hours
• and hold an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher.
Roughly 40% of SFA’s graduates each year are first-generation students. First-generation students are those whose parents or guardians have not earned a bachelor’s degree in the United States. Many of these SFA students also qualify as low-income, defined as being eligible for a Pell Grant. The percentage of Pell Grant-eligible undergraduates at SFA exceeds both state and national averages, as well as those of peer institutions.
Josephine Damian, criminal justice junior from Houston and the first president of the Nu Xi chapter, said she’s excited about building a legacy at SFA and establishing resources that will benefit future members for years to come.
“Serving as an inaugural member and president is an honor and an opportunity to truly build something from the ground up,” Damian said. “It’s a representation of a community dedicated to supporting first-gen students and faculty.”
The chapter also includes a mentoring component that allows faculty and staff who were first-generation college students to join. Eight SFA faculty and staff members were inducted into the inaugural cohort this month.
“This creates another support system for our first-generation students because these faculty and staff members share similar experiences,” said Dr. Veronica Beavers, associate dean of students - Student Development and Access Services. “Many of them are connected to initiatives that support first-gen Lumberjacks, from participating in Generation Jacks to assisting with first-generation workshops and other student success efforts across campus. Our faculty and staff have been amazing at helping students overcome challenges, and this new initiative offers yet another opportunity for them to connect with and uplift our students.”
Dr. Kent Willis, senior vice president for enrollment and student engagement who helped Long and Beavers establish the Tri-Alpha chapter at SFA, said the new inductees are a source of pride for their families and an inspiration to future first-generation students.
“The students, faculty and staff inducted into the Nu Xi chapter of Tri-Alpha embody what it means to break barriers and create new pathways for others,” Willis said.
“They understand the significance of this responsibility and embrace it with purpose and dedication. They are trailblazers and role models. I look forward to seeing the Nu Xi chapter continue to grow.”
Tri-Alpha was founded March 24, 2018, at Moravian University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and has grown to more than 150 chapters nationwide.
For more information on Tri-Alpha, visit 1stgenhonors.org. For more information on first-generation student support at SFA, visit sfasu.edu/firstgen.
