Professor Michele Fazio and her graduate students at UNC Pembroke gave presentations at the 9th annual Class Action First Gen Summit.
Dr. Fazio, a professor of English, led a memoir workshop titled "Writing About Class," in which her students shared their experiences as first-generation working-class college students and the career choices that led them to pursue a graduate degree at UNCP.
The student presenters were Amber Staley, Erica Hagan and Sherry Grant.
"This conference provided students with an opportunity to talk about their resilience and passion for teaching and learning,” Dr. Fazio said. "I am incredibly proud of how they advocated for students straddling the demands of work and school."
During her presentation, Grant shared how her background has prepared her to assist the first-generation students she teaches.
"It is important to look for new ways to support our first-generation students and continue to learn how we can effectively meet their needs."
In addition to attending multiple workshops throughout the day on topics such as mentoring rural students and developing first-generation resource centers, students interacted with scholars and allies from across the country to identify problems, discuss grassroots solutions, and share what's working on their campuses.
The summit was held virtually on November 13.
Additionally, Fazio presented "Dilemmas in Class: Lessons from Working-Class Student Support Programming" with Dr. Colby King of the University of South Carolina Upstate at Ireland's first Working-Class Studies Conference on November 9.
Fazio is an internationally recognized scholar and expert in working-class studies as past president of the Working-Class Studies Association. She serves as co-coordinator of the gender studies minor. Fazio is also the 2020 recipient of the UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching.
