Michelle Rippy

Michelle Rippy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice Administration at California State University, East Bay, where she is also an alumna. Her work centers on educational equity and student success analytics, particularly for first-generation students. She leverages institutional data to develop evidence-based interventions that address systemic barriers to graduation.

Research interests focus on:

• Identifying and closing equity gaps through data analysis
• Building community support systems for underrepresented students
• Designing academic navigation tools for first-generation learners
• Implementing retention strategies in criminal justice education

She has pioneered several initiatives including the 'Taste of Success' networking event, a first-generation student cohort program, and a specialized orientation. She is currently developing a First-Generation Institute to centralize academic, psychological, and research resources. Professor Rippy's contributions to the CSU's Graduation Initiative 2025 exemplify data-informed approaches to improving student persistence across the university system.