Chet Eckman, Class of 2017, Founding Member
Undergrad: Northeastern University
Hometown: Lancaster, PA
Legal Interests: Corporate and securities law
1L Summer: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
2L Summer: Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Email: ceckman@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Bio: The first in my family to attend college, I was definitely more than a little overwhelmed when I started the very foreign adventure that was law school. My parents didn't really understand my decision to leave what they saw as a great job in NYC to go back to school. I was lucky to have fantastic mentors from work prior to Penn Law and to find several within the school who have helped me to succeed over my three years. I have been involved with some of the core student organizations at Penn Law from Lambda to the Law Review to the Bowling League, and I am very excited to get this new group started. With First Generation Professionals, I aim to help students who might feel a bit out of place - like I did - to assimilate more seamlessly to Penn Law and to assure them that they are not alone. I hope that FGP will provide a structured support network for students from backgrounds like mine and will help them to succeed in the legal profession.
Undergrad: Northeastern University
Hometown: Lancaster, PA
Legal Interests: Corporate and securities law
1L Summer: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
2L Summer: Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Email: ceckman@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Bio: The first in my family to attend college, I was definitely more than a little overwhelmed when I started the very foreign adventure that was law school. My parents didn't really understand my decision to leave what they saw as a great job in NYC to go back to school. I was lucky to have fantastic mentors from work prior to Penn Law and to find several within the school who have helped me to succeed over my three years. I have been involved with some of the core student organizations at Penn Law from Lambda to the Law Review to the Bowling League, and I am very excited to get this new group started. With First Generation Professionals, I aim to help students who might feel a bit out of place - like I did - to assimilate more seamlessly to Penn Law and to assure them that they are not alone. I hope that FGP will provide a structured support network for students from backgrounds like mine and will help them to succeed in the legal profession.
Akbar Hossain, Class of 2018, Founding Member
Undergrad: Franklin and Marshall College
Hometown: Norristown, PA
Legal Interests: Immigration, Asylum, and Refugee Policies
1L Summer: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and Norristown Planning Commission
2L Summer: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
Email: akbarh@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Bio: I was born in Bangladesh and my family later moved to Saudi Arabia, where my father was a migrant worker. My family immigrated to the United States in 2001, through the Diversity Visa Lottery. I came of age watching my family and neighbors, from all corners of the globe, struggle with language barriers and low-paying, backbreaking jobs. I would not be where I am today without the sacrifices of my parents and the encouragement of my community. For me, First Generation Professionals is a step towards recognizing the importance of the rich stories and experiences that first generation students bring to graduate schools. I hope that FGP will provide a space for students of similar backgrounds to network and act as a model to help in the facilitation of broader conversation about socioeconomic diversity and mobility.
Undergrad: Franklin and Marshall College
Hometown: Norristown, PA
Legal Interests: Immigration, Asylum, and Refugee Policies
1L Summer: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and Norristown Planning Commission
2L Summer: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
Email: akbarh@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Bio: I was born in Bangladesh and my family later moved to Saudi Arabia, where my father was a migrant worker. My family immigrated to the United States in 2001, through the Diversity Visa Lottery. I came of age watching my family and neighbors, from all corners of the globe, struggle with language barriers and low-paying, backbreaking jobs. I would not be where I am today without the sacrifices of my parents and the encouragement of my community. For me, First Generation Professionals is a step towards recognizing the importance of the rich stories and experiences that first generation students bring to graduate schools. I hope that FGP will provide a space for students of similar backgrounds to network and act as a model to help in the facilitation of broader conversation about socioeconomic diversity and mobility.
Steven Mills, Class of 2019, Founding Member
Undergrad: University of California, Berkeley
Hometown: San Leandro, CA
Legal Interests: Education, Voting Rights, and Civil Rights
1L Summer (2017): ACLU of Northern California
2L Summer (2018): Morrison & Foerster LLP (SF)
Email: millss@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Bio: I am amongst the first in my family to graduate from college and am the first to pursue a graduate education. For as long as I can remember, my parents prioritized my educational pursuits with the understanding that it was important for my professional and educational development. I valued my classroom experiences since they served as a distraction from some of the personal struggles I had to overcome. I immersed myself in my classwork and pursued opportunities in student affairs to learn more about the education system that was impacting my life and my peers. I was fortunate to have mentors that helped establish a foundation for me to succeed, however, I recognize that not everyone has had this. First Generation Professionals is an important step forward in recognizing the unique obstacles that first generation college students and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face in pursuit of higher education. I am excited to advocate for this community and connect it to vital resources and networks.
Undergrad: University of California, Berkeley
Hometown: San Leandro, CA
Legal Interests: Education, Voting Rights, and Civil Rights
1L Summer (2017): ACLU of Northern California
2L Summer (2018): Morrison & Foerster LLP (SF)
Email: millss@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Bio: I am amongst the first in my family to graduate from college and am the first to pursue a graduate education. For as long as I can remember, my parents prioritized my educational pursuits with the understanding that it was important for my professional and educational development. I valued my classroom experiences since they served as a distraction from some of the personal struggles I had to overcome. I immersed myself in my classwork and pursued opportunities in student affairs to learn more about the education system that was impacting my life and my peers. I was fortunate to have mentors that helped establish a foundation for me to succeed, however, I recognize that not everyone has had this. First Generation Professionals is an important step forward in recognizing the unique obstacles that first generation college students and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face in pursuit of higher education. I am excited to advocate for this community and connect it to vital resources and networks.