"While there is a growing and prominent literature on the experiences of first-generation undergraduate students, there is a lack of research on the experiences of first-generation graduate students. People tend to assume that if someone makes it through the bachelor’s degree, they enter graduate school on a level playing field." - Bailey Smolarek, Inside Higher Ed

This proposed roundtable session for MLA 2021 seeks to explore the challenges and experiences faced by first-generation PhDs, both as graduate students and in their post-graduate careers. Some possible topics for exploration include:

• Acute imposter syndrome
• Differences in experiences and access at the intersections of race and gender
• Barriers to the mentor/mentee relationship
• Explaining research to one's community
• Anxiety about class mobility
• Being a nontraditional student as more common for first-generation PhDs (i.e. working other jobs, having a family, commuting, etc.)
• Patterns of academic identity that preclude first-generation students from establishing a unique identity
• Access to information - "insider" knowledge in academia
• Lack of research preparation - knowledge of the culture around research

We are also interested in proposals that combine or go beyond any of the possible topics listed above. Please submit a 300 word abstract with experiences and topics for exploration and a CV to Laura Thorp (thorp@mailbox.sc.edu) and Kaelie Giffel (giffel@uw.edu) by Monday, March 16, 2020. Please email with any questions.