Liberal Arts students find community through First-Generation Committee

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Nearly 25% of students in the College of the Liberal Arts are the first in their families to graduate from college. To help this special population of students, the College of the Liberal Arts’ Roz and Gene Chaiken Center for Student Success created the First-Generation Committee to provide greater support and community to Liberal Arts first-generation students.

Part of Liberal Arts Student Services, the Chaiken Center for Student Success offers services to all Liberal Arts undergraduate students while also providing additional programming for special populations of students, including Chaiken Scholars and first-generation students. Patty Klug is the director of the Chaiken Center and the First-Generation Committee.

“I already work with Chaiken Scholars, who are predominantly first-generation students who are awarded a significant scholarship from our donors, Roz and Gene Chaiken,” Klug said. “However, these scholars represent just a small fraction of the first-generation students in the College of the Liberal Arts.”

Knowing that, Klug expressed an interest in starting a committee comprised of students, faculty and staff who either were first-generation or are allies and want to improve the experiences of these students. The goal was to create a committee to foster growth and support for each student involved.

“Dean Lang, who is a first-generation student, and Associate Dean Richard Page have been great supporters of our efforts,” Klug said.

Faculty and staff on the committee work in various ways to support the students involved. Jeremy Hoffman, assistant clinical professor of public policy, explained the ways in which he supports the committee.

“I serve on the committee as a faculty mentor and am a proud first-generation ally,” Hoffman said. “While Patty, Michelle [Powers, student success coordinator] and our tremendous student committee members do much of the heavy lifting, my role is to help support our first-generation student population and to lend a faculty perspective on the committee’s academic and programming efforts.”

Additionally, faculty and staff assist in planning events for the committee and serving as resources for students.

“Our aim is to provide students with the most resources to help them succeed as an undergraduate and to break down any barriers to their success as a student,” said Cathy Hunt, teaching professor of psychology. “I have helped with planning events like our First-Gen Mixer and superpower panel. I also am available as a mentor.”

Each year around Nov. 8, the committee hosts the college’s First-Generation Student Celebration as part of the national celebration by the same name. However, the committee’s first-generation activities aren’t limited to one day a year. The committee hosts workshops, brings in first-generation alumni speakers and organizes meet and greets for first-generation Liberal Arts students throughout the year. 

“We have expanded the programming to make students aware of the resources in the college and University that can help them achieve their academic, personal and professional goals,” Klug said. “We are trying to make navigating this large university a bit easier. We are just in our second academic year, so we are still figuring out what our students' needs are.”

Students who attend the events can meet first-generation faculty and staff and learn more about getting involved in the committee and taking on leadership roles.

Aliana Roman, a fourth-year student majoring in psychology, minoring in sociology and completing a diversity studies certificate, serves as one of the engagement chairs on the committee. She leads and organizes committee events to help first-generation students network with peers, faculty and staff.

“I also provide resources for first-generation students to help them reach success both inside and outside of academics,” Roman said.

Roman and Klug were recently selected to be inducted into the new Eta Psi chapter of Alpha, Alpha, Alpha (Tri-Alpha) honor society for first-generation students, faculty, staff and alumni at Penn State University Park. The Tri-Alpha induction ceremony is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22 in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library.

Serving as the committee’s communications coordinator, Milan Dukes, a second-year student majoring in psychology and double minoring in sport studies and media studies, updates the community on what the committee is doing and coordinates the committee’s meeting times. She also serves as the College of the Liberal Arts liaison on First-Gen Advocates, a student organization in the University’s Student Success Center that supports and mentors undergraduate first-generation students.

Dukes emphasized the support that the committee has given her, saying that being a first-generation student is part of who she is and she is grateful for being able to share her story as a first-generation student.

“My experience as a first-generation student at Penn State has been a whirlwind,” Dukes said. “I have learned so much in the short time that I’ve been in college. When I first stepped onto campus, I felt very overwhelmed by the size of the student population as well as the amount of responsibilities being hurled at me. However, in time I was able to find my stride, especially when I began getting involved in the College of the Liberal Arts and with organizations that focused on things I enjoyed prior to college. I’m still sometimes unsure of my next steps, but I always believe I will find my way.”

Roman shared her experience as a first-generation student as well, explaining how Penn State has helped her grow as both a student and a person.

“As a freshman, I knew I was a first-gen student, but I didn't know what challenges would come with that identity,” she said. “Initially, I experienced a lot of imposter syndrome and questioned if college was right for me. Penn State has offered me a lot of opportunities that altered my perception around being a first-gen student. With each experience, I became less ashamed of being first-gen and began to embrace it. I finally realized that I had the opportunity to be the role model I wish I had to younger generations in my family.”

Klug elaborated on first-generation students’ importance to their families and how working with these students is one of the most rewarding parts of her position.

“These students are connected to their families in unique ways; they are the light who carries the dream for their entire family and generations going forward,” Klug said. “We know that as a first-generation student, graduating college with a bachelor’s degree will most likely change the trajectory not only of their own lives but for coming generations of their family. That’s a big responsibility to carry and shoulder, and it should not be done alone. I feel a calling to this work to support them, and I also receive such joy from working with these determined and focused students who want to make a difference in their families, communities and world.”

Lisa Silvestri, associate teaching professor of communication arts and sciences, said she also is thankful for the work the committee has been able to accomplish for the benefit of students who, like her, are first-generation.

“My favorite memories so far include seeing alumni come back and offer insight to the first-gen students, getting to meet and chat with our dean, who is a first-generation student, and just the momentum behind this group in general,” Silvestri said. “They have unique challenges and at the same time, a unique set of gifts. I look forward to the upcoming mixer where we can celebrate and strategize together!” 

The next opportunity for Liberal Arts first-generation students to meet and mingle with other first-generation students, administrators, faculty and staff is at the Liberal Arts First-Gen Mixer from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, in the Noontime Lounge, 121 HUB-Robeson Center. The first hour of mingling, refreshments, games and raffles will be followed by a panel discussion on first-generation experiences and how to activate your superpower as a first-generation student. Liberal Arts first-generation students, faculty, staff and allies are invited to register and attend.

Chaiken Center for Student Success

The Chaiken Center for Student Success connects and guides students to the right resources and support they need — when they need it — in their academic journey. The Chaiken Center is a built-in community designed specifically for College of the Liberal Arts students to connect to peers, support staff and others providing resource information and friendly networking opportunities crucial to their college success.