Where might your McNair Scholar experience take you? Dr. Guadalupe Carrillo draws from her own journey to offer reflections and practical guidance for students navigating academic and professional pathways. As a first-generation student from a rural town in California, Dr. Carrillo became a UC Berkeley McNair Scholar, discovered humanities research during her summer research experience, earned a PhD in English, and now serves as an Assistant Dean at Stanford University. In this presentation, Dr. Carrillo will reflect on how the McNair experience helped shape her scholarly identity, commitment to educational opportunity, and understanding of the importance of finding communities of belonging. She will explore practical questions that often arise when considering graduate school and academic careers: How do you navigate impostor syndrome and uncertainty in academic spaces? How do you choose the graduate program that is right for you? And how do you articulate your story, strengths, and scholarly identity in a graduate application and beyond? Through personal reflection and practical advice, this presentation will encourage students to envision the possibilities ahead while building their own unique paths in higher education and beyond.
