Story perspectives

First-Gen Scholars Face Lower Tenure-Track Hiring Rates

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 3:06 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Researchers Anna Stansbury and Kyra Rodriguez found first-generation scholars face lower tenure-track hiring rates.
Their Econometrica study showed the first-gen gap exceeds gender and race gaps.
Clint Harris, a Purdue Ph.D., now works as a non-tenure-track economics researcher at Wisconsin.
Harris said he struggled with faculty networking because his parents did not graduate from college.
He observed classmates advancing by cultivating professor relationships rather than relying solely on grades.

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Story summary

Researchers Anna Stansbury and Kyra Rodriguez found first-generation scholars face lower tenure-track hiring rates.
Their Econometrica study showed the first-gen gap exceeds gender and race gaps.
Clint Harris, a Purdue Ph.D., now works as a non-tenure-track economics researcher at Wisconsin.
Harris said he struggled with faculty networking because his parents did not graduate from college.
He observed classmates advancing by cultivating professor relationships rather than relying solely on grades.