Why I teach
I am the first person in my family to complete an undergraduate degree, let alone earn their Master’s and PhD. Because of my experiences and the obstacles I have faced as a first-generation undergraduate and graduate student, I am invested in mentoring underrepresented and underserved students both in and beyond the classroom to promote a more vibrant and inclusive intellectual community.
Regardless of where I teach—in a university, prison, online, or in a community-based classroom—I am open about my experience as a first-generation student. I invite conversations about the unique challenges to first generation learners to encourage my students who may feel as I once did, who doubt their ability to remain enrolled in college, and who struggle through the emotional and intellectual work of pursuing higher education.