The Cohort Sistas Podcast

Since May is Mental Health Month, it seems fitting to share this interview that we did a while back. Dr. Kristen Voorhies holds a Ph. D. from the University of Chicago in evolutionary biology and currently works as a marine biologist at the US Fish and Wildlife Services. Not only was Kristen the only Black woman in her cohort, but she was also the first Black woman to graduate from her program. In...

On today’s episode of the Cohort Sistas Podcast we speak with Dr. Morgan Jerald about her experience studying an interdisciplinary doctorate at the University of Michigan. We start by acknowledging the challenges of the social climate in which Dr. Jerald commenced her studies. Next, Dr. Jerald gives listeners some tips on producing an academic application that will get noticed. She talks about how...

Whether you complete your studies first or break it up with experiences in the working world, you’re still going to gain the knowledge and you’re still going to do the work. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Dr. Torie Weiston-Serdan, a scholar and practitioner with over 15 years of teaching and youth programming experience. She holds a Ph. D. in Education from Claremont Graduate University and...

It’s normal for many of us to choose to essentially put our lives on hold when we pursue a doctoral degree. The same cannot be said for Dr. Veronica Eyo, who had not one but three children while earning her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California! In today’s episode, we speak with Dr. Eyo about deciding to continue pursuing her doctorate despite her first pre...

In today’s episode of the Cohort Sistas Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Ujunwa Okoye-Okafor to talk about her time at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, imposter syndrome, and the power of self-knowledge. Dr. Okoye-Okafor received her Ph. D. in Cell Biology from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and, during that time, she was part of the team that patented a novel gene. She currently works in a...

In this episode of the Cohort Sistas Podcast we speak with Dr. Ijeoma Opara all about her research, the importance of mentors and why there’s nothing wrong with taking a non-linear path to earning a doctorate. Dr. Opara received her PhD in Family Science and Human Development from Montclair State University. She is the founder of The SASH Lab, namely The Substance Abuse and Sexual Health Lab. She...

In this episode of the Cohort Sistas Podcast, you’ll hear from today’s guest, Dr. Norrell Edwards, who shares her perspective on thinking about your Ph. D. as just one part of your career journey, not the be-all and end-all! Dr. Edwards completed her doctorate in English literature from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a specialization in 20th and 21st century Black Diaspora Literatu...

The language we use matters, especially if we want to enact change upon systemically racist power structures. In today’s episode, we get together with Dr. Noelle Chaddock who received her Ph. D. in philosophy from Binghamton University and serves as the Vice President of Equity and Inclusion at Bates College. She teaches and publishes critical race theory, Black feminism, and Black dramaturgy and...

Pursuing a doctoral degree typically means pursuing a very unique specialization, often with a predetermined trajectory, and institutions aren’t always equipped to accommodate students who envision an alternate pathway. This insight comes from our guest today, Dr. Margaret A. Brunson, a multidisciplinary leader, writer, coach, and entrepreneur. Dr. Brunson received her Ph. D. in Leadership Studies...

I'll be popping in for a solo episode every so often and today I wanted to take some time to share a bit about the story behind Cohort Sistas and explain our programming and impact. Our mission is guided by three pillars: resources, mentorship, and community, and in this episode, I briefly share how we provide those three pillars for the women who join the Cohort Sistas community. If you are...

On today’s episode of the Cohort Sistas Podcast, assistant professor at NYU, Dr. Chantal Hailey emphasizes the game-changing role of peer and senior support in doctoral studies. We dive into the role of racial preference, safety and perceived safety in New York. We begin our conversation by touching on the role of race, safety and racialized safety in school choices. Dr. Hailey tells the story of...

Completing a Ph. D. in the science field wasn’t enough to get Dr. Lamia Harper where she wanted to be, so she recently started pursuing an education of a very different type; bible studies. Lamia’s goal is to combine her passions for science and faith through educating youth about the intersection between the two. In today’s episode, Lamia explains how she ended up with a microbiology-focused Ph....

In this week's episode, I chat with Dr. Claudia Okonkwo, who received her PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology last year and currently works for Boston Consulting Group. Dr. Okonkwo talks about adjusting to life in the US after moving from Nigeria to attend college, how she created time during her doctoral degree for extra-curricular activities (including a bri...

In this week's episode, I chat with Dr. Arielle Brown, who is a licensed psychologist currently practicing at Louisiana State University's Mental Health Service. She earned her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and shares with us why she chose the PhD route over a PsyD or a master's degree, how she had the courage to pivot during her do...

In today's episode, I speak with Dr. Amber Spry, who I've known since way back in college when we did a summer research program together called Leadership Academy. Dr. Spry received her PhD in Political Science from Columbia University and is now an assistant professor at Brandeis University. She shares really critical insight on how you can create your own professional narrative during...

In today's episode, I speak with Dr. Mercy Agyepong, who is an assistant professor in sociology of education at New York University. Dr. Agyepong received her PhD in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and she shares with us how she bounced back from a 2.16 undergraduate GPA, why she turned down a PhD acceptance from Howard, how she coped with going from a lif...

In today's episode, I speak with Dr. Vivian Rodriguez, who has been a school psychologist for almost 20 years, and recently completed her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration. Dr. Rodriguez is also a fellow blogger at LivByViv.com and podcaster at the Don't Mix In Podcast, so we talk about how she strategically timed going back to school with her own kids' educatio...

In today's episode, I speak with Dr. Sharese King, a Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Linguistics at the University of Chicago. Dr. King discusses her work on how Black speech is perceived and stigmatized, how she transitioned from her undergraduate program right into a Ph. D., and the benefits of doing a post-doc before accepting a teaching position. Here are some of the programs Dr. K...

In today's episode, I speak with Dr. Renee Ragin Randall, a postdoctoral fellow and incoming assistant professor in Comparative Literature and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Michigan. Dr. Randall shares how a career in foreign service led her to pursue a PhD, what it was like growing up with a mother in academia, and why she thinks getting work experience before applying to docto...

In the introductory episode of The Cohort Sistas Podcast, Dr. Ijeoma Kola shares a bit of background about why she started Cohort Sistas, an online community for Black women pursuing doctoral degrees; how the podcast is an extension of the Cohort Sistas; and what you can expect from the podcast. Thank you for listening! Leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts! Join the Cohort Sistas comm...

Welcome to The Cohort Sistas Podcast, where each week, we bring to life the stories, struggles, and successes of Black women navigating doctoral degree programs and their lives beyond the degree.  Thank you for listening! Leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts! Join the Cohort Sistas community at community.cohortsistas.org Visit our website to learn more about our programs and how you c...