Biography
Megan Elsen serves as the Associate Director of Academic Support and Mentoring and Director of First Gen Roo at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), where she leads initiatives that strengthen student success, persistence, and belonging. Her work focuses on creating meaningful opportunities for first-generation and underserved students through mentoring, leadership development, academic support, and high-impact educational experiences that foster belonging, personal growth, and long-term success.
Megan has helped develop and expand programs that support students from college access through graduation, connecting them with peer mentors, faculty and staff champions, and high-impact educational experiences such as undergraduate research, study abroad, internships, graduate school preparation, and professional development opportunities. She also co-developed and launched Next Gen Roo, a college access initiative that partners with Kansas City-area schools to help students explore higher education opportunities and build pathways to college success. Megan is passionate about building collaborative partnerships across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Student Success, faculty, school districts, and community organizations to create coordinated support systems that help students navigate college and prepare for life after graduation.
In addition to leading innovative programs at UMKC, Megan has secured and managed grant-funded initiatives that expand access, opportunity, and educational attainment for first-generation students. She has also presented nationally on topics including faculty engagement, mentoring, belonging, and coordinated approaches to student support.
Megan earned her Master of Social Work from UMKC and is currently a doctoral candidate in the EdD in Higher Education Administration program. Her research explores how engagement in high-impact educational practices influences first-generation college students' academic success and sense of belonging. As a social worker and higher education professional, she is committed to creating environments where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to achieve their goals.