About the book
When working-class first-generation students enter college or the professional workplace, we often find ourselves immersed in entirely new worlds. We battle imposter syndrome and must learn an unfamiliar rule book. In this highly accessible book, I explore how first-gens survive these cultural mismatches and also turn their class background into a strength. Through heartfelt stories of first-gen graduates, I show how there needn’t be a choice between economic success or maintaining authenticity to one’s roots–we can balance the competing demands of the two class worlds while lifting up others around us.
About Me
I grew up in a working-class family. My father fixed machinery in a union factory, my mother worked at McDonald’s, and college was something I had to figure out on my own. I stumbled plenty, but with financial aid and mentors who believed in me, I made it through. Along the way, I proudly kept one foot in the working class, and now with my Phd, I have another foot in the middle-class professional world. As a Professor of Sociology at Ohio Wesleyan University, I study class cultures and support first-gen students who are learning to bridge those same worlds.
Speaking & Workshops
As a first-generation college graduate with over 15 years in higher education, I am passionate about helping institutions and organizations create meaningful learning experiences. I bring research to life through story in my workshops, keynotes, and consulting for universities, conferences, and non-profits. On campus, I draw from my faculty development background to engage audiences of any size in exploring first-generation student experiences, teaching and learning practices, and program design. In the community, I work with organizations to unpack class cultures, explore differences in working- and middle-class life, and create more inclusive environments.
Research
My primary research focuses on class cultures, first-gen students, and inequality. In addition to Class Cultures and Social Mobility, I have published research on first-gen students and social inequality in a variety of contexts. Click here.
First-Gen Pedagogy
Which teaching strategies best support first-gen student learning and success? To learn how class cultures shape higher education and what research shows will have the greatest impact on helping first-gen students to thrive, click here.
Contact
If you are interested in talking with Paul regarding his research, speaking, consulting, or workshop opportunities, contact him at this email: psdean@owu.edu. Media inquiries are welcomed. Read more about me here.