Jack Fong

Dr. Jack Fong

http://www.csupomona-fong.org/

Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology

M.A. & Ph.D in Sociology, University of California, Santa Cruz
M.A. in Sociology, San Jose State University
B.A. in Communications, Cal Poly Pomona

What advice would you share with our first-generation college students?

To always observe those who succeed and learn from them. Also, to never give up.

What was your experience as a first-generation college student?

College was culture shock. Although I grew up in America, the culture of academia was a place that I initially felt out of place at. Over time, after getting my BA, MA, and PhD at a variety of different institutions, I still ended up feeling this way. This is because I left my geographical womb of Southeast Asia, and much of that region's heritage is still very much within me.