Navigating doctoral studies, the job market, and environments post-hire are difficult in general. However, for doctoral students who identify as people of color and first generation (Gildersleeve, Croom, & Vasquez, 2011; Holley & Gardner, 2012), the journey comes with additional obstacles. In 2013, about 25%-50% of doctoral students dropped out of their programs (Cassuto, 2013). Reasons for this included lack of peer and mentor support (Devos, 2017), emotional exhaustion and anxiety (Hunter & Devine, 2016), and loneliness and isolation (Janta, Lugosi, & Brown, 2014). To help alleviate this phenomenon among our underrepresented doctoral students, we are hosting a one day seminar for doctoral students in Social Work who identify as first generation and/or people of color.

Our seminar will consist of preparing for non-academic and academic tracks, finding and applying for grants, publishing, facilitating classroom discussions as a minority and incorporating popular education, and a panel of first generation and professors of color navigating the academic job market, job talk, and negotiating their contracts. In addition, as future colleagues, we also want to provide time for doctoral students from different universities to network and build professional relationships.

Space is limited. Lunch & dinner provided. Registration required »

For further inquiries or information please contact Dale Maglalang (dale.maglalang@bc.edu).