A Balancing Act: Being First Still, and Faculty at an HBCU

Abstract

Considering the rising number of first generation college students (FGCSs), an increased number of first generation college graduates should be expected. Historically Black Colleges and Universities have long served as a landing place for these students. While research has focused on the barriers to access and persistence for this population, there has been little discussion about the FGCSs that attend college, obtain degrees, and go on to serve in their disciplines and contribute to their communities. Having been a FGCS, now serving as a tenure-track faculty member at a Historically Black institution, I have been compelled to explore and initiate a dialog regarding the experience of being, First, still. “It” does not end with degree completion.

Citation

Russell, E.R. (2018), "A Balancing Act: Being First Still, and Faculty at an HBCU", Underserved Populations at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Diversity in Higher Education, Vol. 21), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 11-25. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-364420180000021002