First-Gen Spotlight: Rikki Roscoe

Rikki Roscoe (she/her/hers) is a 2nd year PhD student at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) whose research interests are centered on health communication, specifically mental health stigma and underserved populations. If you would like to connect with Rikki, follow her on Twitter @rikkiaroscoe!

1. Where do you call home? Minnesota
2. What is a quote that you live by? “If I have seen further then it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” – Isaac Newton
3. What do you see yourself doing in the future? Interested in pursuing a tenured-track position.
4. If you could switch fields/careers, what field/career would you want to work in/have?* A career in sports, perhaps. Such as being on the administration side of the NFL or working in communication/marketing for a professional or college sports team.
5. What frustrates you the most about academia? Honestly, this more so out of the hands of the “academy,” but the diminishing funding that causes tuition hikes, which then make higher education less accessible – as if education isn’t something everyone should have the basic right to. This lack of funding ripples through every aspect of academia.
6. What are three things you can’t live without?* Coffee, Music, Exercise!!
7. What message do you hope your research conveys to the public? There are people working to support and improve the well-being of underserved populations. You may not feel seen, but we see you. We are trying. Also, there are structural and systematic reasons as to why people are the way they are. Sometimes we need to look beyond holding individuals personally responsible for their situation/condition.
8. Who do you do this for? I became passionate about advocating for Military veterans (an underserved population in many regards) when my brother served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I do it for him, my forever hero. I do it for the soldiers who gave their life in battle and the soldiers who took their life on American soil due to a lack of support and services.
9. What is your proudest moment (so far)?* Being a first generation college student who was accepted into a top 5 communication program in the nation. I’m grateful.
10. What is one piece of advice you would give to other first-gen students? Find your mentors (your giants) who believe in you and support you. They will allow you to see further. (Refer back to my quote).

*borrowed from the 46 Questions blog!