What happens when universities founded on serving "the least among us" struggle to support the students who need them most? In our premiere episode, we explore the complex relationship between Jesuit educational mission and the lived experiences of first-generation college students.

Join four PhD students as we unpack the disconnect between institutional values and campus reality. We examine how principles like cura personalis (care for the whole person) and social justice can either bridge or widen the gap for students navigating higher education without family roadmaps.

Through student voices and institutional analysis, we reveal why first-gen success isn't just about individual achievement—it's about whether Jesuit universities are living up to their founding promise. From hidden curriculum challenges to impostor syndrome, from financial stress to cultural capital gaps, we investigate what it really takes to make "educating the whole person" more than just a mission statement.

This episode sets the foundation for our ongoing project: reimagining how Jesuit institutions can authentically serve the students, their mission calls them to prioritize