Four faculty members who themselves were first-generation college students gathered in Boylston Hall Thursday to offer advice to current Harvard students. The event, sponsored by the Freshman Deans Office, covered topics including adjusting to freshman year and the stigma that first-generation college students face.

Dean of the College Evelynn M. Hammonds introduced the panelists and the moderator, Anya Bernstein Bassett, the social studies director of undergraduate studies.

This may be the first of many conversations we can have about this, Hammonds said.

Tommie Shelby, a professor of philosophy and African and African American studies, said that getting into college was a pretty big shock.

There was a language that I did not speak and they all spoke, said Alexandra Shields, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. There were these little cultural references that everyone seemed to know and I had no idea what they were saying.

Sue Brown, the resident dean of Elm Yard, echoed her colleagues sense of alienation.

I was missing the map that a lot of my classmates had, she said.

The panelists also offered advice to first-generation students.

Put yourself out there, said Matthew K. Nock, a psychology professor.

Shields encouraged students to look for role models.

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Faculty Discuss Experiences as First-Generation Students