Behind the Scenes of our Sponsored Sessions: Take 2

We are so thrilled to be able to cosponsor three sessions at the 2015 NASPA Annual Conference in New Orleans next month! Each session touches on an issue that we feel is central to the Socioeconomic and Class Issues in Higher Education knowledge community and can spark some real reflection, so make sure to bring a colleague. In the Behind the Scenes series we will feature the presentors of those sessions and find out a little bit about them, their session, and their advice for us as professionals. 

becky martin is co-presenting:

Movin' On Up! The Complex Navigation of Shifting from Low Class to Middle Class Ways of Life for Student Affairs Practitioners        Program ID - 14147

1. What brought you to this work (of studying social class in higher education)?

My own class experience brought me to this work. Having a working class poor background and now being immersed in a middle/upper class life creates dissonance for me. This notion of straddling two worlds is a constant in my life and once I did some self-work, I was able to take a critical look at the dissonance. I started to pay attention to the ways classism/elitism showed up on campus (and in myself) and the conflict this caused me. Honestly, I had to do some healing around shame, guilt and embarrassment before I could engage in the topic from any place but pain. 

2. What will student affairs professionals take away from your session?

My first hope is we take away a deeper insight into our own class story - our joys and struggles with understanding how our story frames our current day experience. Secondly, I hope we take away each others stories - finding connection, curiosity, and insight. I want us to be able to take off our mask when it comes to class as it is something we have been socialized to not engage in and yet, in the academy, it is all around us. Lastly, through our learnings I hope we return to our communities and engage class in an authentic, gentle and fierce way - with colleagues, students, partners, friends, and family. 

3. What are you most looking forward to about New Orleans?

With any of these big conferences, connecting with friends. They fill my tank, take in my laughter and tears, give me energy and insight, and create space for me to just be. I hope to catch some sessions to expand my knowledge base and cause some critical thinking As for New Orleans, looking forward to food and festivities.  

4. What are you writing/reading these days to deepen your knowledge on the topic?

My biggest learning these days comes from storytelling, sharing mine and hearing others. It's allowed me to gain depth into engaging in the work. While I appreciate theory, storytelling gets me out of my head to better facilitate sessions about and across class. I recently finished Dr. William Barratt's book, Social Class On Campus, which is a solid combination of the theoretical framework around class and the ways it plays out on campuses/in people's lives.

5. What advice would you offer student affairs professionals regarding social class in higher education (in terms of their own identities, and/or their work with students, and/or their influence on institutional policies/practices)?

ENGAGE IT! Share your own story about class and ask colleagues about their story. Role model for students your joys and challenges around your class of origin and current class. Name it in meetings and with colleagues, assess your policies and practices with class lens (i.e. work attire, language, workspace decor, professional expectations, budget allocation).

6. Any final words of wisdom to share? 

Class is more than money - it's about various forms of capital. It frames so much of our lives and yet we are resistant to examine class (and classism) in real, authentic ways. It is our responsibility to learn about and engage class from an individual, group and systems level to create social change.  

Thank you for your insights becky, we look forward to your session! Check out her co-presenter's responses here and come back later this week for another Behind the Scenes.