Seaver faculty, staff, and administrators are dedicated to helping first-generation
Seaver College students thrive throughout their academic journey. Highlighted below
are faculty who were first-generation students themselves as well as faculty who advocate,
support, and serve the unique first-generation population on campus. All faculty identified
below are eager to assist you throughout your time at Pepperdine and are looking forward
to working with you.
Hello! Although my parents and sisters all started college, I'm the first and only
one to successfully graduate. I've seen firsthand how financial struggles, lack of
family support, and just not knowing how to navigate the system can get in the way
of completing your degree. I'm not that far removed from the days of working while
taking a full course load, scraping together loose change to pay for lunch, and worrying
about what's going on back home while trying to study for class. If you sometimes
feel like you don't belong--family that doesn't quite understand your college experiences,
friends that take a college education for granted--I'd love to talk!
Hi, I was a first-generation college student and am always excited to have conversations
with first-generation college students here at Pepperdine. All first-generation college
students are different but, in my case, neither of my parents graduated from high
school. Both my parents later worked hard to earn GEDs (high school equivalency diplomas)
but never attended college. Although my parents valued my educational journey and
supported me 110%, I had to figure out most aspects of my college journey alone. You
don't have to do it alone! I'm looking forward to talking with you!
Christina Littlefield
Association Professor of Communication and Religion, Seaver College
Most of my family did not attend college or did not complete their degrees, save for
my maternal grandmother who went back to college later in life. No one in my parent's
generation attempted college and everyone else in my generation dropped out. My father
was trained as an electrician in the Navy and my mother worked in inventory. Both
suffered job losses they couldn't recover from because of their lack of education.
I grew up very poor on the east side of Las Vegas and know what it is like to be away
at college when your family is struggling financially, to feel guilty for succeeding.
If this resonates with you, I'm here to talk.
Diana Martínez
Associate Professor of Communication, Seaver College
Greetings! I was a first-generation student. I came to the US at the age of 6 with
my mother. My parents earned degrees outside the US, so navigating my education here
felt like I may as well have been in another world. I persevered in learning a new
language, trying to keep up with school, and feeling like I didn’t understand the
hidden curriculum or what to do when my cultural upbringing did not match the norms.
I worked full-time jobs while in college and switched to part-time when a professor
said I needed more time to be a student. Joining the debate team and the McNair Scholars
program in college taught me about the substantial underrepresentation of Latina faculty
in higher education, and I felt called to continue my studies. I would love to talk
to students about what brings us together and what makes each first-gen student unique.
It is important to recognize the valuable experiences and knowledge that first-generation
students bring to our university and their amazing impact on the campus community.
Cindy Miller-Perrin
Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Seaver College
Hello First-Generation College Students! I, myself, was a first-generation college
student at Pepperdine and so I am personally familiar with what it feels like to enter
the new world of the college experience, including both the thrill of beginning college
but also the challenges that students sometimes face. Before attending college, I
never dreamed that I would one day finish my degree and then go on to get both my
master's and PhD and return to teach at my alma mater. But it has been a dream come
true for me, especially because of the opportunities I have to work with Pepperdine
students whose background and experience are similar to mine. I would love to have
coffee or lunch and a conversation with you about your Pepperdine experience thus
far!
Maire Mullins
Blanche E. Seaver Chair of English Literature, Seaver College
I am a first-generation college student. My father served in the USMC for nearly thirty
years, and we moved all over the country, every two years. I worked full time as a
bank teller while enrolled as an undergraduate at UNLV, and then attended graduate
school at the University of Notre Dame. At Notre Dame I worked as a Teaching Assistant
but also waited tables until midnight at an Italian restaurant on the weekends to
help pay my rent. It has been a long road but I am glad to be a professor.
Brian Newman
Divisional Dean for the Social Science Division, Seaver College
My dad never went to college and my mom went to a community college when I was older
(I've never seen people work as hard as my parents did those years). I was thrilled
to go to college, but immediately felt far behind everyone else. I missed some opportunities
because I didn't know about them, didn't realize how important they were, was intimidated,
or had to work. I wanted to study abroad, but didn't think I could leave my good side
job and was a bit daunted by travel, having never been abroad. Thanks to God, my family,
and a few key professors, it all worked out for good despite some bumps. The picture
from Peru shows I finally made it abroad too—thank you International Programs!
I am the youngest of six children and am the only one of my family (including my parents)
to attend college. I completed BA, MA, and PhD degrees in English (all with concentrations
in Creative Writing), as well as a two-year post-doctoral fellowship, before joining
the faculty here at Pepperdine. The culture of colleges and universities is very different
from K-12 schools, and I understand the challenge of navigating that transition without
any kind of mentorship or family history in this kind of academic environment. Please
consider me an advocate and don't hesitate to contact me if you want to talk about
your (or my) experiences. I think I can be especially helpful to any students interested
in the arts.
Everyone in my family has attended college, but I'm the first—and only—one to have
completed a degree. That, technically, makes me a first-gen college student. It also
gives me insight into some of the factors that can derail the pursuit of a degree,
as well as insight into what it can mean to be self-taught. I've spent my entire adult
life on college campuses, but I'm just now becoming aware of the challenges that first-gen
students (including me a long time ago) often face.
Hi! I would be happy to talk with any first-generation student here at Pepperdine.
While I was not officially a first-generation student, I also did not have much of
a roadmap for the four-year college route, as my parents went to college later in
life. I'm also married to a first-generation student who didn't get the support he
needed; his story reminds me of how important it is that first-generation students
get the encouragement and resources they need to showcase their talents. I want to
hear your story!
Carrie Wall
Teacher Preparation Program Undergraduate Coordinator, Seaver College
Hello! Though I am not a first-generation college student, I'm truly inspired by you
and want to do all I can to support you during your time here! My job at Pepperdine
is to prepare elementary and secondary teachers. I hope that you had some truly amazing
teachers in your life and that perhaps one or two of them played a role in your being
at Pepperdine. Maybe you even want to become one to pay it forward! If so, look me
up. Regardless, earning your degree is a big step towards a promising future and I
would love to walk beside you in your Pepperdine journey. I look forward to meeting
you!
