Nalini IyerProfessor of English, Seattle University

Desi Roots & Routes - Expert Segment with Nalini Iyer, Episode 3

1 Nov 2024 · 1 min

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In this expert segment, the speaker—who teaches 18‑22‑year‑old students at a university newly designated as an Asian‑serving institution—emphasizes the critical role of representation for students of color. She notes that many students encounter a Brown professor for the first time, which they find empowering and often leads them to seek personal stories about her academic journey. This curiosity reflects a desire for intergenerational mentorship. The speaker highlights that solidarity and networking within women‑of‑color communities have been essential to her professional development and to fostering supportive environments for her students.

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And I'm also aware of the fact, as I work with 18 to 22-year-olds largely, that we have, I mean, our university just recently got designated as an Asian-serving institution, that we are, representation matters to our students. Often the students who come into my classes, I'm the first brown person they have studied with, right? And they find that extremely empowering. And often they'll come to my office to talk about some assignment and invariably it goes into like, tell me how you became a professor or what's it like like to be a professor here? You know, those kinds of— they're curious about my life story. They want to know how I arrived where I did. And I think they're all looking for that sort of intergenerational mentoring and mentorship as well. And so I think for me, solidarity and networks within women of color communities has been absolutely key.