Conquering Academia

Transparent Experiences of Diverse Female Doctoral Students

Edited by:
Sonyia C. Richardson, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Chance W. Lewis, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

A volume in the series: Contemporary Perspectives on Access, Equity, and Achievement. Editor(s): Chance W. Lewis, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Published 2019

Across the country, women are pursuing doctoral degrees at a rate higher than males. While the data indicates that women are now more likely to pursue this advance degree, limited research addresses the real experiences of diverse women who are pursuing a doctoral degree. This book highlights the lived experiences of diverse women who are progressing through a doctoral degree program and the challenges as well as opportunities that they face. These women share unique and transparent experiences of progressing through a doctoral program.

Through a narrative approach, Conquering Academia Transparent Stories of Diverse Women Doctoral Students, addresses themes of intersectionality, lived experiences, challenges and opportunities, and adopting an academia mindset. Featured in the Contemporary Perspectives on Access, Equity, and Achievement series, this book shares perspectives of diverse women doctoral students and how their cultural identities assist them with navigating the academic landscape. It also provides insight for current female doctoral students about strategic positioning as a student within the doctoral program and personal necessary transformation in academia. It informs faculty and staff in academia about the experiences of diverse women and how to support their progression and overall retention.

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments. Food for the Soul, Comfort for the Mind, Sonyia C. Richardson. Stretched to be Strengthened, Stephanie Jones-Fosu. The Unleashed Educator: A Black Woman’s Journey to Research in STEAM, Portia York. “My Baby Ain’t No Slow Leak”, Alicia Dervin. You Glow Girl, Alicia Davis. Like My Mother and Grandmother Taught Me: Untameable Indigenous Womanhood in White Academic Spaces, Brittany Hunt. Favor Ain’t Fair: The Saga Continues, Jennifer Johnson. Determined: Finding Faith and Strength Through Adverse Times, Sonja Gadd. The Take Over: The Visibility of Women of Color in Academia, Sonyia C. Richardson. An Epilogue. About the Editors. About the Contributors.