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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

If you would like to be featured as our next first-generation linguist spotlight, please fill out our survey! forms.gle/ApzTkoRgSfwR...

forms.gle

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

"First and foremost, linguistics is SO much fun! Don't lose sight of that. Second, first-gen students have their very own superpowers—tap into yours. Sometimes it takes a little work to figure out how those superpowers fit into the academic world, but I promise: they—and you—belong here."

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

4. What advice would you give to new first-gen linguistics students?

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

"Initially, my greatest challenge was a sense of belonging. I had convinced myself that I didn't quite fit into the academic world. However, I have since learned that I absolutely do belong here, and that my perspective and lived experiences can actually benefit the academy."

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

3. What are some challenges you faced as a first-gen scholar, and how did you overcome them?

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

"I work on syntax and its interfaces with things—those things being morphology, semantics, and phonology. I recently defended my dissertation, Definiteness and Temporality: A Study of DP and TP in Dholuo. This work draws on fieldwork I have conducted on Dholuo (Nilotic) since 2020."

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

2. Tell us about your research area or your latest project!

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

"I came to linguistics by way of psychology, initially through an interest in autism and speech, especially nonspeaking individuals. I quickly discovered how many areas of linguistics I connected with and, over the years, found myself drawn most of all to theoretical and generative linguistics."

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Without further ado, please join us in celebrating the newly minted Dr. Joshua Dees! 👏 He recently finished his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is our spotlighted first-generation linguist this month. P.S. Would you like to be next? Click here! forms.gle/ApzTkoRgSfwR...

Joshua Dees standing at a podium to the left with a TV screen to the right showing his dissertation title, "A Study of Definiteness and Temporality in Dholuo" at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, August 13, 2026

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

And just like that, it's already October! If you are reading this from the U.S., happy Hispanic Heritage Month and see you at NELS! If you are reading from Canada, happy Thanksgiving on the 12th and see you at NWAV! Stay tuned for our next first-generation linguist spotlight, coming right up!

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Thank you for your time and insights, Dr. Kouneli!

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

"You don’t need to arrive knowing how academia works. Ask questions, find mentors, and don’t be embarrassed by what you don’t know. Being first-gen can mean learning the rules as you go, but it also means bringing perspectives and experiences academia needs."

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Q4. What advice would you give to new first-gen linguistics students?

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

"Being first-gen has meant a growing gap between my family and me. My parents struggle to understand or value academic work and often wonder why “so much education” hasn’t led to greater earnings. I’ve had to build a community that understands my work and learn to define success for myself."

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Q3. What are some challenges you faced as a first-gen scholar, and how did you overcome them?

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

"I work on syntax and morphology, with a focus on argument structure, case, agreement, and the syntax of nominals. My research draws primarily on fieldwork on Kipsigis and other understudied languages of East Africa to address broader questions in linguistic theory."

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Q2. Tell us about your research area or your latest project!

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

"In school, I was always a math and science person but also loved languages! When I was a rising junior, I took "Introduction to Linguistics" at the Harvard Summer School, and I got hooked!"

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

And after some technical delays, we are back online! In case you didn't see the news last month on our Instagram and Threads, please welcome Dr. Maria Kouneli, Assistant Professor at Rutgers University and our first interviewed First-Gen Scholar in Linguistics! (Interview in the replies)

Dr. Maria Kouneli wearing a black blouse and smiling in front of a bookshelf full of linguistics books

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

The deadline to submit an application for the FGAE Travel Assistance award is end-of-day THIS Friday, July 31st. Please share with your network! Remember, any first-gen linguistics student who has not attended the LSA Annual Meeting is eligible for the award, even if they're not presenting.

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Reposted by lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social

Michelle Perdomo @prosodactyl.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

@lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social is still looking for submissions for travel assistance to the 2027 @lingsocam.bsky.social Annual Meeting in San Fran! Any first-gen student who has not previously attended the meeting is eligible, even if they are not presenting. Please share with students! Link below!

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

First-generation student heading to the annual LSA meeting for the first time? Apply for travel assistance here: tinyurl.com/fgae2027trav... Submissions open through July 31st!

tinyurl.com

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Reposted by lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social

Linguistic Society of America @lingsocam.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Just one week remains to submit your abstract for the 2027 LSA Annual Meeting in San Francisco! This is your opportunity to share your research with the linguistics community. Abstract submissions close July 2 at 11:59 PM PT. We look forward to seeing your work! www.lsadc.org/abstracts #LSA2027

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Are you a first-gen student interesting in attending the LSA Annual Meeting for the first time? Submissions for the FGAE Travel Assistance Award are open for another month!

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lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social @lsafirstgenaccess.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Submissions for the FGAE Travel Assistance award are now open! Apply for the chance to win $500 in travel assistances to the 2007 LSA Annual Meeting in San Francisco! Open to first-gen students who are attending the meeting for the first time. Submission link: tinyurl.com/fgae2027trav...

The flyer reads "First Gen Access and Equity: Travel Assistance, $500, submissions open until July 31st.
The LSA First Gen Access and Equity (FGAE) Committee is awarding
$500 for travel assistance to a first-generation student in linguistics
to attend the 2027 LSA Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
This annual award is intended to increase the participation of first-gen students in the LSA and FGAE committee. The recipient will have the opportunity to explore linguistics topics or pursue their own areas of interest further by
connecting with peers and scholars at the Annual Meeting.

Eligibility: Applicants must:
◦ Be a first-generation graduate or undergraduate student.
◦ Be a first-time attendee at LSA 2027.
◦ LSA member at time of receipt of award.

Applicants do not need to be US citizens to apply. Applicants do not
need to have an accepted abstract to the Annual Meeting.
Apply by July 31.

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