On Friday, November 13, the University of California's virtual symposium honored the national First-Generation College Celebration and the 55th anniversary of the Higher Education Opportunity Act. Topics included Asian American and Pacific Islander first-generation students, first-gen populations in graduate schools, supporting first-gen students' career readiness, and a critical look at the evolution of higher education in times of unpredictable challenge and opportunity. 

UC Davis faculty and staff participated in the planning and appeared on panels. Recordings of each session are available below.

 

Opening remarks - Liz Halimah, Associate Vice Provost for Graduate, Undergraduate and Equity Affairs, UC Office of the President

Welcoming address  - Dr. Michael V. Drake, President, University of California

• Watch the opening remarks

Breakout session 1: First-gen API students at UC

• Watch breakout session 1

Speakers:

• Dimpal Jain, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, CSU Northridge
• Noel Salunga, Director, Strategic Asian Pacific Islander Retention Initiatives, UC Davis
• Joseph Sorensen, Associate Professor of Japanese, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, UC Davis

Moderator: Maria Dykema Erb, Co-Director, Diversity & Student Success, The Graduate School, University of North Carolina

Breakout session 2: Supporting first-gen graduate students in uncertain times

• Watch breakout session 2

Speakers:

• Paulette Garcia Peraza, doctoral student, UC Santa Cruz
• Matt Newlin, higher education and college access practitioner
• Laura M. Wagner, Associate Professor, School of Nursing, UCSF

Moderator: Alece Alderson, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Life, UCSF

Breakout session 3: Career readiness of first-gen students

Watch breakout session 3

Speakers:

• Mona Monfared, Assistant Professor of Teaching, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, UC Davis
• Carina Salazar, Associate Director, Career Education and Engagement, UCLA
• Carolyn Sandoval, Associate Director, Teaching + Learning Commons, and Director, Engaged Teaching, UC San Diego
• Naledi Saul, Director, Office of Career and Professional Development, UCSF

Moderator: Jeanette Ruiz, Assistant Professor of Teaching, Department of Communication, UC Davis

 

Closing session: A critical look at the evolution of higher education's response to the needs of first-gen students in times of unpredictable challenge and opportunity

• Watch the closing session

Speakers:

• Frances Contreras, Professor, Department of Education Studies, and Associate Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, UC San Diego
• Amber Garrison Duncan, Strategy Director, Lumina Foundation
• Kevin Graham, University Innovation Alliance, UC Riverside

Moderator: Sarah Whitley, Assistant Vice President, Center for First-Generation Student Success, NASPA