Smart Moves: From Ph.D. to First-Gen Advocacy with La’Tonya Rease Miles

Earning a Ph.D. often comes with the expectation of a tenure-track career, but what happens when your path leads elsewhere? In this talk, Dr. La’Tonya “LT” Rease Miles, author of Smart Girl: A First-Gen Origin Story, shares how she leveraged her doctoral training to build a dynamic career in first-gen advocacy, media representation, and social impact. Through storytelling and practical insights, she challenges traditional notions of academic success and explores the smart moves that redefine what a Ph.D. can do.

Register here to attend. A light reception and book signing will follow the talk. Books will be available to purchase at the event.

Dr. La’Tonya “LT” Rease Miles is a trailblazer in first-generation higher education. As a first-gen graduate herself, she has designed groundbreaking programs at UCLA and Loyola Marymount University to support first-gen students. A co-founder of the Black First Gen Collective and My Tribe Media, LT advocates for non-traditional learners and elevates first-gen narratives through scholarly work and digital communities. An avid fan of NBA basketball, college football, and pop culture, she holds a Ph.D. in American literature from UCLA and explores the intersections of first-gen identity and cultural representation in her writing.