First in the Family: Attending Harvard as a First-Generation Student

Being the first person in your family to attend college is a milestone for any student—even more so when that college is Harvard. During this interactive panel discussion, current First-Generation student Jasmine Fernandez COL ’16, Dean of Admissions and First-Generation alumnus Bill Fitzsimmons AB ’67, and Dr. Anya Bernstein Basset PhD ’97, whose research focuses on First Generation experiences at elite universities, will share their perspectives, and thoughts on what it is like to be a First-Generation student at Harvard. Together with the attendees, they will also explore how Harvard can become an even more supportive and welcoming place for First-Generation students. A light dessert reception will follow the program.

Panelists include:

Anya Bernstein Bassett PhD ’97, Senior Lecturer and Director of Studies, The Committee on Degrees in Social Studies at Harvard

Jasmine Fernandez COL ’16, President, Harvard First Generation Student Union

William Fitzsimmons AB ’67, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Harvard College 

Kevin Jennings AB ’85, President, First Generation Harvard Alumni (moderator)

Space is limited. Please register now.

Students: Free

Club Members, Harvard Alumni, and Friends of the Harvard community: $12

If you are a member of the Harvard Club of Boston and wish to register, please email us your member number and number of guests.

 
About First Generation Harvard Alumni:

"First Generation" is a group of Harvard alumni who are the first members of their families to attend college and who seek to support current first-generation students. As an officially-recognized Shared Interest Group of the Harvard Alumni Association, our mission is to help make Harvard a better place for current first-generation Harvard students. We achieve this through mentoring, advocacy and providing networking opportunities. Thanks to the generosity of the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative, first-generation students make up a substantial portion of today’s undergraduate student body (estimates run as high as 18%). Our goal is to help make Harvard a welcoming place for them.