Dr. LaNaé Budden is a proud first-generation college graduate and is the inaugural director of the First-Generation Center at the University of South Carolina. In this role, she is responsible for connecting first-generation students with resources and services to successfully navigate their progress towards graduation through programmatic efforts and campus partnerships. With over 20 years of experience in higher education in various administrative and executive leadership roles, Dr. Budden is passionate about creating meaningful support systems that empower first-generation students to thrive in all aspects of their collegiate journey and beyond.