Shows
The FGLI PodcastRedefining the College Experience: How FGLI Students Leaders Shape Elite InstitutionsWhat role do FGLI student leaders play at elite institutions—and how can colleges better support them? In this episode, Peter and Lin discuss these questions and more with Dr. Ileana Casellas-Katz, who is the Director for Diversity and Inclusion at NYU School of Law. Dr. Casellas-Katz shares insights from her research on how FGLI leaders bring nuance to the predominant college culture, and create spaces of belonging on campus. Whether you're a FGLI student leader yourself or want to better support your FGLI peers, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss!
2025-05-0253 minThe FGLI PodcastNot All Healers Wear White Coats: Reimagining Impact Through BioengineeringIn this episode, Peter has a candid conversation with Reem Azar about the pivot points in her career path, departing from her initial aspirations to be a neurologist to discover her passion in bioengineering. Working in Dr. Michelle Johnson’s Rehabilitation Robotics Lab, Reem explains her decision to return to academia and pursue a PhD, studying the way robotics can interface with neuroscience to develop better personalized therapies. Reem also describes how her family reacted to her career shifts, being a first-generation immigrant from Syria. We finish the conversation with Reem’s advice on how to determine if a...
2025-04-1857 minThe FGLI PodcastFrom First-Gen Student to Penn First Plus: Navigating University Resources and Difficult ConversationsIn this episode, Joanne and Khaliun sit down with Dr. Marc Lo, the inaugural Executive Director of Penn First Plus, to discuss the future of first-generation and limited-income (FGLI) programs at Penn and beyond. Drawing from his personal experiences as a FGLI student during undergraduate and graduate school, Marc shares his understanding of challenges such as imposter syndrome, family pressures, and the sense of not belonging. He also offers insights on how such experiences extend beyond college and emphasizes the role of mental health and student resources in higher education.Guest: Marc Lo, PhDGuest...
2025-04-0450 minThe FGLI PodcastFinding a Zest for Life Again: Balancing Obligations with AspirationsOn this episode, we chat with Alaric Qin, who is a Penn alumni currently working in tech but has a passion for music and community building. Emily sits down with him to discuss the importance of maintaining a zest for life and exploring the nuances of being first generation low income and taking care of loved ones while bettering your own life. Guest: Alaric Qin (Penn M&T’15)Alaric grew up in the SGV region of Southern California, where he stayed until he went to Penn to study engineering and business. He jus...
2025-03-1436 minThe FGLI PodcastFirst to Say “You Can Too”: Finding Success with Mentorship, Sponsorship, and CollaborationIn this episode, Peter sits down with Dr. Michelle J. Johnson to explore her engineering journey, highlighting the various fields that sparked her interest before finding her true passion at the intersection of rehabilitation and robotics. Dr. Johnson shares insightful reflections on the key resources that guided her along the way, emphasizing the vital role that mentors, sponsors, and collaborators play in navigating a successful career in this dynamic field.Guest: Dr. Michelle J. Johnson, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationDr. Michelle J. Johnson is an Associate Professor of Physical...
2025-03-031h 01The FGLI PodcastHow We Were Raised: The Influence of a FGLI Upbringing on Our Decisions and SuccessIn this episode, we sit down with Richard Patti, a PhD candidate in Sociology and Demography at UPenn. From reflecting on moving out of upstate New York to mustering the courage to go to office hours, we uncover the small details and moments that made us realize we were first-generation low-income. We also discuss large sociological patterns that have an influence on one’s life trajectory. Guest:Richard Patti, PhD Candidate in Sociology and Demography at the University of PennsylvaniaRichard is originally from Buffalo, NY and is the oldest of 7 children. He...
2025-02-141h 11
SideQuestLuci e ombre - Vileborn 17Aurore racconta agli altri cosa è successo quando la pulsione ha preso il sopravvento, mentre alcuni contrasti iniziano a venire in superficie nel gruppo, Igritte porta consiglio per quello che i ragazzi dovranno fare per restare uniti e cosa dovranno fare nella missione che fgli aspetta.Tutti i nostri contenuti sono gratuiti e disponibili pubblicamente, rilasciati sotto licenza Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0: puoi distribuirli, manipolarli, copiarli quanto vuoi, e se hai dubbi su quali siano i limiti entro cui farlo puoi scriverci su Discord, dove saremo felice di risponderti.Un'ultima cosa: Quello che noi mettiamo in scena non è scriptato e...
2025-02-1155 minThe FGLI PodcastSharing Our QuestBridge Story: Reflecting on Our Experiences, Advice, and What Matching Meant for UsIn this episode, we go full circle as we look at the beginnings and end of the QuestBridge journey with two incoming Penn freshmen, Ashley and Stephania, and a graduating senior, Sierra, all of whom matched to Penn. Starting off, our guests discuss the QuestBridge application process, reflect on how it felt when they got matched, and provide some advice for prospective applicants. They also touch on what it means for them to be first-generation low-income students, and what to expect going into Penn. Guests:Stephania Salvador is from Santa Ana, California. S...
2025-02-0748 minThe FGLI PodcastAuthenticity Over Expectation: Showcasing Your FGLI Experience in Your College AppsIn this episode, Khaliun, Emily, and Peter reflect on their experience applying to college and provide advice on planning your apps. Our main takeaway was figuring out how to paint an authentic and multifaceted picture of our experiences to show what makes us unique as FGLI students. Wondering what’s on the application or how to write your essays? What should you do right now as a sophomore or freshman to make sure you’re putting the best foot forward? Join us as we discuss all of this and more! Speakers: Khaliun, Emily, PeterInstagram: @fglipo...
2025-01-2154 minThe FGLI PodcastDefining Fate During Setback and Success: Made to Happen or Meant to Be?Hello everyone! Today, we’ll be sitting down with three of our newest freshman members of the team, Nicolle, Vidhi, and Joanne. We begin by chatting about their initial impressions of Penn from this first semester, and then transition to a conversation about imposter syndrome. Afterwards, we’ll go into conversations about fate and explore how it helps us contextualize and reflect on our FGLI journey. Was it all fate, or was it all us?Guest: Nicolle, Vidhi, JoanneNicolle Cama is a freshman at the College of Arts and Sciences planning to major in Cogn...
2024-12-131h 17The FGLI PodcastStanding Out in Life: Integrating Yourself in Your CareerIn this episode, Emily and Joanne sit down with Enne Kim, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences studying English and International Relations. This episode focuses on being pre-law at Penn as a FGLI student as well as navigating how to fit your personal interests and career aspirations in your life, especially as job security and money can be FGLI priorities.
Guest: Enne Kim
Contact: ennekim@sas.upenn.edu
Enne Kim is a junior majoring in International Relations and English. Her academic interests largely focus o...
2024-11-2244 minThe FGLI PodcastFirst and Oldest: Carving the Path for Your Siblings as First-GenIn this episode, we sit down with Areli Martinez Pizano, who is a recent graduate from the Penn Graduate School of Education and works as a program assistant at the Greenfield Intercultural Center. We begin with Areli sharing her experience applying to college and figuring out what she wanted to major in. We discuss the challenge of majoring in something that you’re interested in versus something that is conventionally more marketable. We then talk about how to manifest motivation and about the responsibilities that come with being an older sibling in a first-generation low-income household. Guest: Ar...
2024-11-1547 minThe FGLI PodcastBudgeting Your Life 101: Money, Social Life, and New ExperiencesIn this episode, Peter and Will chat with Cesar Lainez, a Penn graduate from the Class of 2024. Cesar graduated from the Wharton School, focusing on areas of business analytics and marketing & operations management. This episode focuses on navigating living off campus, budgeting, and balancing social life and money. We also talk about learning how to network and face rejection when applying to jobs post grad.
Guest: Cesar Lainez
Contacts: clainez@wharton.upenn.edu, www.linkedin.com/cl30
With a determined mindset and headstrong approach, Cesar is a recent graduate from th...
2024-11-0854 minThe FGLI PodcastWhat We Wish We Knew As Freshmen: An Honest Conversation on Adjusting to PennIn this episode, we sit down with Sarahi Franco-Morales, Hannah Srey, and James Tran to reflect on their freshman years. From the fast pace of classes at Penn to the competitive nature of clubs, we put down our Penn Faces and open up about what FGLI students struggle the most with freshman year. We then focus on the community that helped support them, and the family that’s watching from home.
Guests: Sarahi Franco-Morales (C'28), Hannah Srey (C'28), James Tran (C'28)
James Tran (He/Him) is a first-generation low-income student here at the University of...
2024-11-0154 minThe FGLI PodcastThe Hidden Cost of Success: Navigating Unspoken Struggles as FGLIIn this episode, we discuss the unspoken FGLI experience with Isabella “Izzy” Boudnik, an academic counselor at the Penn College Achievement Program (PennCAP). While many FGLI students see attending college as the “end game,” simply being in college or graduating with a degree will not erase all of their struggles. Whether it be strained relationships with their home community or cautiously navigating financial pressures, FGLI students grapple with many common, yet widely unspoken, challenges on a daily basis WHILE being a full-time college student. We hope this conversation sheds light on these struggles and celebrates the resilience of all of our F...
2024-10-2558 minThe FGLI PodcastImposters Among Us: Fighting the Fear of Being ExposedIn this episode, we have a nuanced discussion about imposter syndrome with Dr. Dustin Brisson, who is a biology professor and the director of the biology master’s program at Penn. The feeling of not belonging or being “as far” as others plagues all of us, whether we are undergrads, grad students, or are well into our career. Dr. Brisson walks us through his own experience navigating college and post-grad and the feeling of not belonging and not doing enough. He offers guidance on how to combat these feelings and to take control over one’s own path.
Guest...
2024-10-211h 22The FGLI PodcastIs Being FGLI a Blessing or Burden When Navigating Mental Health?In this episode, we talk with Dr. Robert Ghrist about dealing with mental health issues, imposter syndrome as well as balancing your parents' dreams and your own. Dr. Ghrist talks about his experiences of moving to different environments, both college and graduate school, and provides advice and resources such at Penn First Plus, for finding a community for support.
Guest: Dr. Robert Ghrist
Robert Ghrist (Ph.D., Cornell, Applied Mathematics, 1995) is the Andrea Mitchell PIK Professor of Mathematics and Electrical & Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education for t...
2024-10-121h 10The FGLI PodcastBalancing Family with Personal Aspirations: Embracing Yourself Away from HomeIn this episode, we will be sitting down with Toyce Holmes, Assistant Director of the Penn Spectrum Program in Alumni Relations. Toyce discusses her Native upbringing and journey throughout college, touching on the different "pushes and pulls" she felt after moving away from her close knit home community. Throughout this episode, we reflect on these complex emotions FGLI students encounter when we set out into the world, and how to use this opportunity to grow and discover who we are.
Guest: Toyce Holmes
Toyce Holmes (she/her/hers) Kiowa and Muscogee. Toyce has been a s...
2024-10-041h 01The FGLI PodcastBecause You Don’t Love Us: Multicultural Misunderstandings as FGLIIn this episode, we sit down with Kia Lor (Penn GSE’16) as she recounts personal stories about her multicultural, FGLI narrative growing up as Hmong in Minnesota. We then reflect on how the FGLI experience continues past graduation, and explore how Kia learned how to reconcile her seemingly two separate lives at Penn and at home.
Guest: Kia Lor (GSE’16)
Kia (she/her/hers) is a political refugee, bilingual speaker, and first-generation low-income college graduate who was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and then raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lor is interested in the d...
2024-03-1550 minThe FGLI PodcastThe Guilt Behind Finally "Making It"In this episode, we sit down with Lyndsi Burcham (C’19) to talk about how she navigated FGLI advocacy at Penn to help bring monumental change for the FGLI community and the creation of Penn First Plus. We then take a deep dive into all of the bizarre and conflicting emotions that Lyndsi grappled with after receiving her first job offer post-grad––being excited yet feeling undeserving.
Guest: Lyndsi Burcham (C’19)
Lyndsi (she/her/hers) is the Financial Wellness Program Manager at Penn. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Lyndsi graduated from Penn in 2019 after matching through QuestBri...
2024-02-2955 minThe FGLI PodcastBringing FGLI Students to NYC and How Teachers Changed the Course of Her LifeIn this episode, Khaliun and special guest Guadalupe talk about all things related to student organizations and adjusting to college at Penn. For Guadalupe, not only was this experience novel as she was the first in her family to graduate high school, it was also a stark shift for her in terms of environment and demographics.
Guest: Guadalupe Espinoza (she/her/hers) sophomore in the College. At Penn, she is a SEC Fellow and is involved with the Netter Center, Mujeres Empoderadas, and Penn for Immigrant Rights. She also loves the outdoors and has been backpacking in...
2024-02-2027 minThe FGLI PodcastWho Are We? Why Did We Create This Podcast?In this episode, we (Peter and Khaliun) talk about our transition into Penn and touch a bit on the role of FGLI student orgs and advocacy. We also discuss how our journeys at Penn have motivated us to create this podcast, and outline the main ideas that we hope to explore in the future! So, stay tuned!
Instagram: @fglipodcast
Email: thefglipodcast@gmail.com
Penn Clubs: https://pennclubs.com/club/fgli-podcast
Discord and website links coming soon!
Speakers: Peter Hong (C'24) and Khaliun Dorjmenchim (C'25)
In...
2024-02-1423 min
The FGLI PodcastAbout the FGLI PodcastWelcome to the FGLI Podcast! Throughout our episodes, we’ll be highlighting and celebrating the FGLI experience through conversations with first-gen low-income alumni as well as current students.
Instagram: @fglipodcast
Email: thefglipodcast@gmail.com
Penn Clubs: https://pennclubs.com/club/fgli-podcast
Discord and website links coming soon!
Speakers: Peter Hong (C'24) and Emily Chu (C'25)
Intro and Outro Music: LANDR – Easy
2024-02-0601 min
Experience DardenExperience Darden #239: Student Spotlight | First Generation and Low-Income College Student InitiativeIn this episode of the podcast, we catch up with second year Full-Time MBA students Hoi-San Guan and Chloe Ramnarine to discuss Darden’s First Generation and Low-Income College Student Initiative (FGLI). The goal of this initiative is to foster community and a sense of belonging among first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI) college students at Darden. We talk with Hoi-San and Chloe about their MBA journeys, what led them to Darden, plans for the FGLI Initiative in the months ahead and more.
2023-12-0846 min
On RecordSupport, Scholarships, and Stories: The First Generation Experience at UVAEpisode Notes
In this week’s episode, hosts Ariana Arenson and Jake Adler gain insight on the first-generation student experience at U.Va.through conversations with students. They also eexplore resources available for first-generation and first-generation low-income (FGLI) students. With interviews from Sarah Elaine Hart on the new Walentas scholarship and Bryan Christ on the organization Rise Together, we hear about organizations working together to bridge the gap for first-gen students entering college.
Thank you to Bryan Christ, Sarah Elaine Hart, Deric Childress, and Rachel Lin for speaking with us.
This podcast is po...
2022-04-2432 min
The TrillestS6E11. FGLI Students at PennListen on Spotify| Apple Podcasts|Google PodcastsThe Trillest is sponsored by The Economist! Use our link,economist.com/EV51, to get a 12-week digital subscription for JUST $19 (students) or $25 (general population)!In this episode, Sia chats with student leaders: College senior Mercedes Owens, College junior Mary Sadallah, and College graduate Daniel Gonzalez. The four discuss being First-Generation, Low-Income students and how it has impacted their time at Penn. Tune in to this episode because it is INSPIRING!Hosted by Sia-Linda Lebbie. Produced by Sia-Linda Lebbie and Evie Artis, and edited by Megan...
2021-04-0300 min
Pour a Little BrainHow a Rural Harvard Student is Paving Ways for OthersWelcome to the Podcast!
Today, I am joined by Alex, a FGLI Harvard College student, founder of the Rural Leadership Initiative, and advocate for fellow rural students.
Tune in to listen to Alex's diverse interests, projects, and feats he's accomplished during his time at Harvard.
Interested in learning more about Alex's projects? Head over to the google doc (linked below) for direct links to opportunities he mentions!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17WxYBiwBnb3FiRdeN0UP-0kSshtIqM6LMZzgCntokvY/edit?usp=sharing
Happy Listening!
...
2021-03-0145 min
Down In the Basement PodcastEp. 136 | Girl, You Lookin' FertileOn this week's episode:
Love is in the air as Valentines Day approaches. Tap in as Anthony discusses a weekend getaway with his lady, what is the best compliment you can give a lady, as well as a recap of the bore that was the Sleeper Bowl. Funny interview stories, a crazy example of when keeping it real goes wrong and much more.
TUNE IN!
Donate to Alondra Carmona: https://www.gofundme.com/f/tuition-for-fgli-hispanic-student?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unknown&utm_campaign=comms_2qkz+tuition-for-fgli-hispanic-student
Follow Us:
Twitter: twitter.com/wethebasement
Instagram: instagram.com/wethebasement
Facebook: facebook.com/wethebasement
...
2021-02-121h 17
YANA PodcastsNecessary Relevance Art Series: The Role & Support of Individual ArtistsYANA WEBINARNecessary Relevance: The Role of the Arts in SocietyYANA has developed a series of programs to explore the role of arts and culture in society, particularly in a tenuous economy and amidst fervent social justice movements. Join us for any or all of the upcoming programs featuring Yalies in all parts of the arts and cultural sectors. *** Role & Support of Individual ArtistsJoin us for an open conversation about how individual artists are faring and a discussion ab...
2021-02-101h 00
The Unofficial UPAAN PodcastStory 7 - David Thai C’18 - On Being FGLI, Collective Success, and Falling 7 Times and Getting Up 8.Congratulations to all members of the class of 2018 graduating today, and to all the new members of the UPAAN family!One of these new members of the UPAAN family is David Thai (C'18), the recipient of the UPAAN Student Leadership Award for the class of 2018. The son of immigrants and a Philadelphia native, David has worked with others on campus to advocate and support the First-Generation-Low-Income (FGLI) community both on campus and in the Greater Philadelphia Area. In addition to serving as the chair of the PEER Mentoring Program, he served as the founder of the 7|8 organization...
2018-05-141h 01