CALES adviser creates First Gen Den as place to study, relax and connect

After being asked to help strengthen programs for first-generation college students in the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Daniel Jiménez Flores knew exactly what he wanted to do. And he knew the perfect place to do it.

Tucked away on the third floor of the Forbes building was a small vacant space. Located next to his own office, it was a fixer-upper with potential. 

After getting permission from the college to use the space, Jiménez Flores, an academic adviser, got to work creating an informal lounge specifically for first-generation students.

The First Gen Den opened to students this past fall and looks like the quiet corner of an indie bookstore or a vintage shop, with warm lighting, an old couch, and a big wooden shelf full of knickknacks, all of which came from Jiménez Flores' own home and donations from family, friends and co-workers.

Jiménez Flores, a first-generation college graduate who earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the U of A, says students use the First Gen Den as a low-key place to study or just unwind and grab a coffee or snacks. Meanwhile, he's also building it up as a hub for them to access CALES and University of Arizona first-generation support programs.

"The vibe I go for is cozy, comforting and safe," Jiménez Flores said. "But the First Gen Den is also very intentional because I envision it as a connector for students who might not know about the services and resources that are there for them. They might be aware of the services and ask me, 'Should I go?' and I tell them, 'Yes, you should!'"

First-year student Mariano Diaz stops by the First Gen Den three or four times a week between classes. 

"It's welcoming," said Diaz, who is majoring in sustainable plant systems. "I can relax and chit-chat with people, or we sit in silence and do homework. With Daniel, if I have a question about something, I'll make sure to ask him first. It's never like I'm asking a stupid question. I know I'll get help." 

CALES Dean Shane Burgess visited the First Gen Den shortly after it opened and talked with Jiménez Flores and a few students. Burgess, who is from New Zealand and was the first in his family to graduate from a university, has been a strong advocate for first-generation programs since he joined the university in 2011.

"My message to first-generation students is that if you got into the University of Arizona, you belong here and you are capable of doing well just like everyone else," Burgess said. "But it doesn't mean you shouldn't ask for help when you need it, just like everyone else does."

The University of Arizona Thrive Center defines a first-generation college student as one whose parents or legal guardians did not complete a four-year degree or whose degree was completed outside the United States, or a student who was or is a homeless youth, has experienced foster care or has been a ward of the state. 

University Analytics and Institutional Research reported that 30% of undergraduate students entering the U of A in fall 2024 identified as first-generation. The nonprofit organization FirstGen Forward estimates that 54 percent of students in the United States are first-generation and graduate at a much lower rate than other students – 24% compared with 54%.

Jiménez Flores, who grew up in Nogales, Arizona, said daunting issues like financial constraints, lack of familial support, impostor syndrome, confusion around how to access resources or simply navigate school, and an unwillingness to reach out for support can prevent first-generation students from earning a degree.

"They might think asking for help is a sign of weakness," he said. "I understand that, but I tell them the university has entire offices and teams whose sole purpose is to ensure they have that support."

Jiménez Flores points students toward resources such as the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center, The A Center, Thrive Center, the Disability Resource Center, First Cats, the CALES Learning Lab and Career and Academic Services advisers and counselors. 

Jiménez Flores is working to restart the CALES First Cats chapter, and is reaching out to CALES first-generation staff, faculty and recent alums to invite them to the Den to share their own university experiences with students.

"There's so much that can be done," Jiménez Flores said.

Nancy Rodriguez-Lorta, CALES senior director of advising and student services, believes college-based initiatives like the First Gen Den, along with universitywide programs, are crucial to helping first-generation students who are looking for advice and a sense of belonging.

"We do our best to provide a sense of community," Rodriguez-Lorta said. "The more a student feels they have some connection with a program or even just one individual, it's more likely they will continue to persist and graduate. That's what Daniel is doing with the First Gen Den."