UC Press Blog

Since 2021, the University of California Press FirstGen Program has been cultivating and supporting the work of first-generation scholars — those who are the first in their family to receive a college degree. First-gen scholars have important stories to tell from unique perspectives, and it’s our goal to provide space and support for these stories to be told. To that end, UC Press provides FirstGen authors with community-building opportunities, resources for navigating publication, and grants to assist them in writing and publishing their books. 

UC Press has great news to share about FirstGen program growth and seeks your support for its continued success. Here’s how our program has benefitted first-gen authors so far.

FirstGen Author Highlights 

Matthew Morrison

FirstGen author Matthew D. Morrison came to us after publishing a popular 2019 article in the UC Press publication, Journal of the American Musicological Society. Morrison’s journal article inspired years of work with our editorial team and became the foundation for his first book: Blacksound: Making Race and Popular Music in the United States.

As FirstGen author Matthew D. Morrison unwrapped a copy of his first published book, Blacksound, in February 2024, he exclaimed via Instagram post: “It’s a whole book that I wrote! I could not be more excited 😭🙏🏿🤲🏿🖤 ”  Blacksound went on to be featured as one of Rolling Stone’s Best Music Books of 2024 and won an AAP Prose Award in the Humanities category.

Last month he said: “The First Generation program was an invaluable resource in supporting my book, Blacksound, as a first-time author. After recently reaching the first anniversary of the book's publication, I've realized even more how critical this special program has been towards the book's reception and overall success. I hope that other first-time UC Press authors who need the additional support can also reap the benefits of this unique and important resource!” 

Yvette Martínez-Vu and Miroslava Chávez-García

FirstGen authors Yvette Martínez-Vu and Miroslava Chávez-García brought their unique perspectives and professional experiences to help shape their book Is Grad School For Me? Demystifying the Application Process for First-Gen BIPOC Students, a vital tool for first-gen students navigating grad school.

"UC Press provided an overwhelmingly supportive and enthusiastic experience for me as a first-time author. They offered guidance at every step of the process and I often referred back to their FirstGen program resources and their amazing team to get my questions answered. I would highly recommend working with this press to anyone who is considering publishing an academic book."—Yvette Martínez-Vu, FirstGen author (pictured left)

"Working with the FirstGen program at UC Press has been phenomenal. We—my book co-author and I—never felt alone or ignored, as can sometimes happen in the world of publishing. Throughout our book publishing journey, the editors as well as the marketing and publicity staff met and talked with us, explained the process, and answered all of our questions. The experience was, hands down, amazing."—Miroslava Chávez-García, FirstGen author (pictured right)

Stephanie Canizales

Not only has the UC Press FirstGen Program grown into one of the largest academic publishing programs of its kind, most of our authors are publishing their very first book. Writing that first book is an important milestone in career-advancement, and can be especially challenging for FirstGen scholars, as they navigate academia with fewer resources at their disposal. FirstGen author Stephanie Canizales describes the impact of being able to publish her first book, Sin Padres, Ni Papeles: Unaccompanied Migrant Youth Coming of Age in the United States, through the program.

"I knew I wanted to be a UC Press author before I even knew what my first book would be about. As an undergraduate and graduate student, most of my favorite books on migration and Latinx immigrants in the US were published by UC Press. Receiving a book contract on the Sociology list was a dream come true. I felt validated by my scholarship and the promise that my research had a place in the vast social science landscape. Receiving the news that I would be a UC Press FirstGen Scholar award recipient felt more personal, an assurance that I—the author of the work—belonged in a lineage of incredible UC Press authors."—Stephanie L. Canizales, FirstGen author

FirstGen Program Milestones

As one of the largest university presses in the country, we annually publish around 200 new books. In year one of the FirstGen program, 9% of all UC Press book-signings were from FirstGen authors. In three years, we’ve doubled that number with 18% of our signed authors identifying as FirstGen. We’ve published 30 books from FirstGen scholars with more than 70 FirstGen projects scheduled to publish in the next four years. These numbers represent new voices, stories and perspectives that are helping to shift dynamics in higher education and beyond.

Since we started FirstGen three years ago:

• 104 FirstGen authors have been signed — every author will receive a grant, along with additional support through the publishing process
• 69 projects are first books
• Eight new FirstGen books will be published this spring!

Last year the FirstGen program launched a community-building program that focuses cohorts of new first-gen authors into a series of brown bag events. Led by UC Press staff, these gatherings provide a space to learn what to expect from a publishing experience at UC Press, ask questions, and share insights and experiences with others. So far, we have scheduled over 10 brown bag events and have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our attending authors.  

With your support, we can do more.  We are seeking funds to not only sustain the FirstGen Program, but to also provide new tools for our authors and resources for their grant support. Donations help us further build the FirstGen program and give voice to a diverse group of authors who each have a unique perspective. With enough funding, we will be able to explore a FirstGen mentorship program, an online resource library, and manuscript development workshops. 

Your support can be doubled through this campaign. Donations received totalling up to $10,000 will be matched by a UC Press Foundation Trustee! 

Please consider a tax deductible, charitable contribution to help us reach at least $10,000 by next week. Donations will help the UC Press Foundation build and sustain the FirstGen program into the future.  

• $100 helps promote FirstGen to new authors and the public
• $250 supports the Press as it builds FirstGen publishing resources
• $500 underwrites FirstGen author mentorship workshops
• $1,000 provides funding to sustain and expand FirstGen
• $3,000 fully funds a grant to a FirstGen author

Many thanks for considering a gift of support!

Sincerely,

Amanda Todd, UC Press Foundation Director

Raina Polivka, UC Press Sr. Editor and FirstGen Lead Coordinator

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