Sean McCloud

I am the first in my working-class family to attend a college, which I guess also makes me the first to ever finish one, let alone become a professor. I was born and raised in rural northern Indiana by my grandparents and we made do with what little we had. I had no intentions of going to college—didn’t think anyone from my class could—until I had a required meeting with a high school guidance counselor. She told me that there was financial aid and loans available for students from my social location. So, and against my family’s wishes, I did attend college, paying my own way with multiple jobs, loans, and scholarships. Today I am a professor of religious studies and American studies faculty affiliate and social class is one of the subjects I have written—and continue to write—books and articles about. From my own experiences I know that college can be a strange place that is hard to figure out for first gen students. A well-supported university first gen program is a good way to build community and find mentors to help individuals navigate their way through the world of higher education.