Creating What's Possible: A Panel Discussion with First-Generation Students in STEM

​According to a 2020 study, 9% of First-Gen college grads earn degrees in STEM. The numbers of First-Gen students continue to shrink when considering the graduate student pool, prompting us to ask:

​What are the kinds of unique challenges and opportunities experienced by First-Gen/Low-income student (FLI) STEM graduate students? And how do they create their own path as they pursue advanced degrees as researchers and scientists?

​Join us on Tues. November 3rd at 4pm for refreshments and an engaging conversation with STEM graduate students and science researchers talking about their FLI experience and how it informs their academic and research path. The panel discussion will feature personal stories as well as insights on how to create pathways of success here at Stanford and beyond. Join us in the Hartley Conference Center (which is Mitchell 130) for this insightful discussion!

​The panelists are:

• ​Lauren Ward, PhD Candidate in Earth Systems Science

• ​Gaby Calana Somoza, PhD Candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering

• ​AJ Villaruel, PhD Student in Civil and Environmental Engineering

• Isabella Hoàng, Master's Candidate in Epidemiology and Population Health

• Emily Sidharta, Master's Candidate in Community Health and Prevention Research

Lien K. Truong (Associate Dean and The Kelsey and Robert Murphy Director of the First Generation and/or Low-Income Student Success Center (FLISSC) will serve as the facilitator of the panel. 

​Part of the 2026 Stanford First-Gen, Low-Income (FLI) week, this panel discussion is sponsored by the Stanford University First-Gen, Low-Income Student Success Center (FLISSC) + the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Office of Access, Belonging & Community.