Doctoral Scholars Program
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program
Increasing Faculty Diversity
More than one-third of America’s college students are people of color. But historically underrepresented groups make up only small fractions of college faculty. Nationwide, 6 percent of faculty are African American or Black, just over 5% are Hispanic and about 1% are Native American. The SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program is working to change that.
The goal: more historically underrepresented Ph.D. students who seek careers as faculty on college campuses
The Doctoral Scholars Program provides multiple layers of support — not only financial assistance and research funding, but also career counseling, job postings and a scholar directory for networking and recruiting. Mentoring and advocacy for scholars is crucial, and support continues into early careers as graduates become faculty members. And each fall, a thousand scholars and young faculty members convene to learn and support one another at the Institute on Teaching and Mentoring.
5-minute version of this video
More than 1,225 Graduates and Counting
The goal of the Doctoral Scholars Program is to increase the number of historically underrepresented students who earn doctorates and choose to become faculty at colleges and universities. Since its founding in 1993, the program has supported more than 2,000 scholars who have attended 109 institutions in more than 30 states.
Institute on Teaching and Mentoring
Upcoming Dates, Locations
2024 | 2025 |
---|---|
October 31-November 3 New Orleans Marriott New Orleans |
October 30-November 2 Atlanta Marriott Marquis Atlanta |
Indiana University Indianapolis Assistant Vice Chancellor Wins National Mentoring Award
Tabitha Hardy, assistant vice
chancellor for graduate education at Indiana
University Indianapolis, received one of two national
Faculty Mentor of the Year awards earlier this month at the
annual Institute
on Teaching and Mentoring , Oct. 29-Nov. 3 in New
Orleans.
The Institute is the nation’s largest annual gathering of underrepresented doctoral students and college faculty members of color.
Kansas State University’s Rana Johnson Honored with Frank Abbott Award
Rana Johnson, Kansas State University’s Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, was honored with this year’s Frank Abbott Award at the Institute on Teaching and Mentoring Oct. 30 to Nov. 3 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Nation’s Largest Gathering of Underrepresented Ph.D. Students in New Orleans Oct. 31 to Nov. 3
Institute on Teaching and Mentoring helps scholars finish Ph.D.s, launch faculty careers in academia
WHO
Scholars affiliated with the SREB-State Doctoral Program and seven other scholarship programs, including the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Scholars Program.
DSP Program Graduate Spotlight – Tiah McKinney, Ph.D.
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Spotlight Series
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Graduate #971 – Tiah McKinney, Ph.D.
Tiah E. McKinney, Ph.D., co-founder
and executive director of The McKinney Foundation
Inc., is committed to ensuring equity in health, education,
and high-quality instruction for priority engagement youth to
promote and sustain America’s competitiveness in the 21st
century.
DSP Program Graduate Spotlight – Daniel Jean, Ed.D.
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Spotlight Series
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Graduate #524 – Daniel Jean, Ed.D.
Daniel Jean, Ed.D., was raised in
abject poverty and rose from a 1.9 grade point average to become
an author, consultant, motivational speaker, swagger trainer,
playwright, and poet. He has been featured in several
publications, including the Los Angeles Times,
nj.com, Black Enterprise, Ebony
Magazine, the Hechinger Report and Diverse:
Issues in Higher Education.
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Cohort
2023-2024 DSP Scholar Cohort Photo Gallery
The SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program’s 2023-2024 Fellowship recipients are at the forefront of groundbreaking research and innovation in their pursued Ph.D. concentrations.
Harriette Scott is new SREB Vice President of Postsecondary Education
Harriette Scott has joined the Southern Regional Education Board as vice president for postsecondary education.
In this role, Scott leads SREB’s postsecondary programs, including the Academic Common Market and the State Doctoral Scholars Program, education data services and state authorization reciprocity agreements.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA FACULTY MEMBER WINS NATIONAL MENTORING AWARD
Sloan Mentor of the Year, Institute on Teaching and Mentoring
Tempestt Neal, founder and director
of the Cyber Identity and Behavior Research Lab at the University
of South Florida, received one of two national Faculty Mentor of
the Year awards at the 30th annual Institute on Teaching and
Mentoring this October in Tampa.
The Institute is the nation’s largest annual gathering of underrepresented doctoral students and college faculty members of color.
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATE DEAN WINS NATIONAL MENTORING AWARD
SREB Mentor of the Year, Institute on Teaching and Mentoring
Natasha N. Croom, associate dean for
academic and student affairs at Clemson University, received one
of two national Faculty Mentor of the Year awards at the 30th
annual Institute
on Teaching and Mentoring this October in Tampa.
The Institute is the nation’s largest annual gathering of underrepresented doctoral students and college faculty members of color.
30th Annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring
Looking Back, Moving Forward
The SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program marks the 30th anniversary of the Institute on Teaching and Mentoring with reflections on the past 30 years and goals for the future to make the Institute even more impactful and influential in helping future generations of diverse faculty and workforce.
Communicating Technical Topics to Non-Technical Audiences
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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Explaining research involving complex ideas makes sense to an
audience full of experts in the field, but to a
non-technical audience, the information may be confusing. In this
interactive discussion topics covered included:
Evaluating Personal Career Wellness
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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In this webinar, Steph Kalina of Liberty Mutual led a discussion on career wellness, which refers to the state of one’s overall career satisfaction and success, encompassing various aspects such as work-life balance, personal growth, and job fulfillment.
Self-Advocacy in Academia
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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Doctoral students and early career faculty may feel intimidated when meeting with professors or colleagues and should be prepared to advocate for themselves. This webinar was an interactive discussion featuring tips to prepare for challenging conversations and building confidence to overcome the anxiety.
Giving Feedback: The art of speaking up to collaborate and empower
An occasional series from the Doctoral Scholars Program on postsecondary topics
When I first started my Ph.D. program, I was taken aback that none of the talks offered to graduate students focused on how to give feedback to others. Plenty of workshops discussed how to receive feedback, but coming from an industry where feedback was encouraged and expected, I felt we were missing a part of a very important equation.
Pursuing the Ph.D. – How to Get Your Research Published
An occasional series from the Doctoral Scholars Program on postsecondary topics
Publishing a journal article is a significant milestone for a Ph.D. student’s academic journey. It showcases your contributions to your respective field and acts as a validation of your research skills and expertise. The process of publishing can often seem overwhelming and time-consuming, but with the right approach, it can be a relatively smooth experience.
2022 Institute Publication
Connect, Build, and Grow: Tips On How to Make the Most of the Institute From Graduates
The 29th Institute on Teaching and Mentoring publication highlighted six Institute graduates who shared their experiences attending the conference and provided tips for attendees on how to utilize the opportunity to network and build community.
29th Annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring
Connect, Build, and Grow: Tips On How to Make the Most of the Institute From Graduates
The 29th Institute on Teaching and Mentoring publication highlighted six Institute graduates who shared their experiences attending the conference and provided tips for attendees on how to utilize the opportunity to network and build community.
Putting Yourself Before Your Work
An occasional series from the Doctoral Scholars Program on postsecondary topics
After working in research in one capacity or another for the past six years, the most common topic I hear about when speaking with fellow students is stress. We just can’t help but mention the stress of working on a time crunch, the stress of submitting grants, the stress of funding; stress is always an underlying theme to our careers and one that appears to have no end. However, not all is doom and gloom. There are many ways in which we can try to balance our work-related stress, and below are two which can get overlooked.
Structuring Your Dissertation Committee
An occasional series from the Doctoral Scholars Program on postsecondary topics
In graduate school we are bombarded with decisions. We decide whether to be quantitative, qualitative or mixed-methods researchers, what classes to take, and what topic to expand on for our dissertation. One of the most important decisions we make, though, is deciding which faculty members will sit on our dissertation committee.
Prioritizing Self-Care in Academia
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program alumni discussed the importance of prioritizing self-care and mental health on the rigorous Ph.D. journey. Scholars and faculty shared therapeutic resources and tools and answered questions on the importance of social support systems and the role culture plays.
2022 Bob Belle Service Grants Awarded
Congratulations to the 2022 SREB alumni winners of the Bob Belle Service Grant Awards. The award is another way the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program seeks to empower program graduates to make a difference in their communities. The grant supports projects that encourage and prepare the next generation of potential doctoral students. All projects must encourage students to explore opportunities that further their educational goals and aspirations.
SREB Doctoral Scholars Program’s leader will receive presidential service award
Ansley Abraham, the longtime director of the Southern Regional Education Board’s Doctoral Scholars Program, will receive the nation’s highest honor for mentors who help to expand the nation’s talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Abraham is among the 15 recipients of this year’s Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.
Starting a Grant-Funded Community or Campus-Based Initiative
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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In this webinar, SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program alumna and Bob Belle Service Grant recipients Drs. Myrtede Alfred, Karin Block-Cora and Cheryl Swanier shared their expertise on several topics, including steps to conceptualizing an initiative, organizing an initiative from an existing practice, how to leverage funding and build relationships with similar programs, and the connection between service and the tenure-track.
Dissertation Defense Stories: Defending in a Virtual Environment
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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In this webinar, SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program alumna Drs. Whitney McCoy and Janeen Perry-Campbell led the panel discussion on defending the dissertation in a virtual environment. Panelists shared their experiences defending online, offered key preparation tips surrounding the rules in a virtual environment and answered attendee questions.
SREB Doctoral Scholars Program founding director to receive lifetime achievement award
Ansley Abraham, the founding
director of SREB’s acclaimed program to increase the number of
underrepresented Ph.D. graduates and college faculty of color,
will be awarded the 2021 Arthur A. Fletcher Lifetime Achievement
Award.
The award will be given by the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity during the association’s 47th Annual National Conference and Awards Ceremony in October.
Tenure Webinar Series (Part 1): Achieving Tenure: Advice for Early Career Faculty
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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In Part 1 of our Tenure webinar series, SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program alumni panelists discussed the basics of the tenure and promotion process, answered common questions and provided insights based on their own experiences.
Tenure Webinar Series (Part 2): Tenure and Faculty Diversity
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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In Part 2 of our Tenure webinar series, SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program alumni panelists discussed the relationship between tenure and faculty diversity, highlighting the current national discussion about high profile tenure cases.
Student Debt & Faculty Diversity
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
In this webinar, SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program alumni discussed why addressing the student debt crisis is a key component of diversifying the graduate school pipeline and ultimately diversifying the professoriate, as well as thoughts on how systemic policy change can help address this issue.
Faculty diversity doesn’t match student demographics, reports show
ATLANTA — The rates of Black, Hispanic and other
underrepresented college faculty members are not keeping pace
with the changing student demographics in many states, according
to the Southern Regional Education Board’s 16 new state profiles and regional data
on faculty diversity.
Only about 9.2% of full- and part-time faculty members were Black
and 5.1% were Hispanic at public four-year institutions in the
16-state SREB region in 2017-18, the latest year with federal
data available.
Mentoring 101: Navigating Academia
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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Mentorship serves as a crucial support for students as they navigate graduate school and enter the professoriate. But understanding how to build a strong mentor/mentee relationship isn’t always easy. Featuring former SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Faculty Mentor of the Year award winners in conversation with their mentees, this webinar featured advice on how to get the most out of a mentoring relationship from both perspectives.
Student Debt Stifles Faculty Diversity
Comparing Debt Burdens in SREB's Doctoral Scholars Program and Nationwide
Student debt disproportionately affects students of color and could contribute to a lack of diversity among college faculty. The SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program aims to reduce this barrier by providing financial support for its participants. This brief presents findings from a survey of Doctoral Scholar Program alumni compared with data collected from a national survey to provide insight on the impact of program participation on student debt burden.
Now Is the Time to Focus on Faculty Diversity
The reckoning with racial injustice across the United States offers an important opportunity for state leaders and universities to address the lack of diversity among college faculty and increase their commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. This report offers four recommendations for increasing faculty diversity based on SREB’s 30 years of research and work with this issue.
The Future of Faculty Diversity (Part 2): Faculty Retention
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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In this webinar, SREB-DSP alumni from across the higher education spectrum discussed the importance of faculty diversity and shared thoughts on how institutions can better retain diverse graduate students and faculty.
The Future of Faculty Diversity (Part 1): Graduate Student & Faculty Recruitment
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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In this webinar, panelists from across the higher education spectrum discussed the importance of faculty diversity and shared thoughts on how institutions can better recruit diverse graduate students and faculty.
The Impact of Microaggressions on Health and Job Satisfaction
An occasional series from the Doctoral Scholars Program on postsecondary topics
The multiple pandemics of 2020 have systematically forced us to engage in critical conversations around race, injustice and the pervasive nature of inequalities across all sectors of society. As these dialogues have unfolded, several organizations have stepped forward with statements decrying racism and social injustice on their websites and social media outlets.
Moms of Color in Academia – Navigating Grad School
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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This conversation-oriented panel brought together former SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program graduates to share their experiences and advice on navigating graduate school and academia as a mom of color. Panelists discussed a variety of topics including how to advocate for resources as a new mom, how to address childcare challenges, resources to seek out within your institution, how to build a supportive network/community, and how to juggle school and life.
Transitioning to a Faculty Role
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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>
Transitioning from doctoral student to professor can be both exciting and challenging. In this webinar, SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program alumni discussed their experiences navigating the transition into the professoriate. The panelists also provided advice on how to adjust to your new role, continue to grow your professional skills and balance service and academic commitments.
Navigating Graduate School During a Disaster
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series
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This year has brought huge shifts to higher education as institutions and students attempt to grapple with pursuing postsecondary degrees in the midst of an international public health crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant and unprecedented challenges to graduate students at every stage of their studies.
Pedagogical Strategies for Inclusive and Trauma-Informed Teaching
An occasional series from the Doctoral Scholars Program on postsecondary topics.
As educators continue in the 2020-2021 year during a time of racial unrest, a national presidential election, and the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, many are wondering how to adapt their teaching practices in response. The current climate has been traumatic for those who are navigating loss, grief, and profound changes of all sorts. As educators we must respond to this in inclusive ways that support students’ well-being.
Self-Care and Your Success in Graduate School
An occasional series from the Doctoral Scholars Program on postsecondary topics.
How do you honor your mind, body and spirit? Do you even think it’s important?
From 2007-2014 I was a full-time doctoral student in social work at the University of Alabama. The program involved writing an annotated bibliography, writing and defending an integrative paper, taking comprehensive exams, and writing and defending a dissertation. My life was consumed with this and travel between my home state of Mississippi and my surrogate city and state, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I made little time for self-care. I would leave Tuscaloosa on a Friday and return either Sunday evening or leave at 5:30 a.m. on Monday morning. I missed my family, friends, and the comforts of my Mississippi Delta home life. My home was my outlet.
Deep Dive into the Fulbright Experience
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series (Fulbright Session 2 of 2)
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In September, the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program hosted a series of two professional development sessions focusing on the Fulbright Fellowship.
Applying for the Fulbright Scholar Award
SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Webinar Series (Fulbright Session 1 of 2)
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>
In September, the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program hosted a series of of two professional development sessions focusing on the Fulbright Fellowship.
Georgia College Faculty Member Wins National Faculty Mentor Award
Stephanie McClure, a professor of
sociology at Georgia College, was awarded one of
six national Faculty Mentor of the Year awards at the 26th
annual Institute on
Teaching and Mentoring in October in Atlanta,
Georgia. The Institute is the nation’s largest annual
gathering of underrepresented Ph.D. students and college faculty
members of color.
Purdue University Faculty Member Wins National Faculty of the Year Award
Levon T. Esters, an associate professor of agricultural sciences education and communication, was awarded one of six national Faculty Mentor of the Year awards at the 26th annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring in October in Atlanta, Georgia. The Institute is the nation’s largest annual gathering of underrepresented Ph.D. students and college faculty members of color.
Fixing the Pipeline of Possibility
A recent Atlantic
article, “The
Disciplines Where No Black People Earn Ph.D.s,” is
eye-opening for its title alone. “In 2017,” author Adam Harris
says, “there were more than a dozen fields” — largely within STEM
— “in which not a single doctoral degree was awarded to a black
person anywhere in the United States.”
Tips from Women of Color on Succeeding in Academia
Finishing the Ph.D. and Advancing in Higher Education
Women represent a majority of Ph.D. students nationally, but overcoming hurdles relating to both gender and race can make life in academia especially challenging for women scholars.
That was a major theme among scholars and experts at the 2018 annual Institute on Teaching and Learning, hosted by the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program and its partner programs.
‘I almost wasn’t’: Ph.D. graduates, experts urge self-care
A critical topic that often gets overlooked in the drive to earn a Ph.D.: taking care of yourself.
The issue was on full, courageous display at the 2018 Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, the nation’s largest gathering of underrepresented Ph.D. students and graduates of color. At the banquet celebrating the previous year’s newly minted graduates, many spoke of their emotional and health struggles during their long journey to the doctorate.
Sloan Foundation’s Elizabeth Boylan Honored with Frank Abbott Award
Elizabeth S. Boylan, director of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s programs on STEM higher education, was honored with the 2018 Frank Abbott Award at the Institute on Teaching and Mentoring in October in Arlington, Virginia.
Since joining Sloan in 2011, Dr. Boylan has been responsible for the attendance of more than 1,000 Sloan scholars at the Institute and leads the design of a number of sessions at the event.
University of Arkansas Faculty Member Wins National Mentor of the Year Award
Ana Julia Bridges, an associate
professor in the University of Arkansas department of
psychological science, was awarded one of two national Faculty
Mentor of the Year awards at the 25th annual Institute on
Teaching and Mentoring in October in Arlington, Virginia. The
Institute is the nation’s largest annual gathering of
underrepresented Ph.D. students and college faculty members of
color.
Cornell Faculty Member Wins National Mentor of the Year Award
Chris Fromme, an associate
professor at Cornell University in Ithica, N.Y., was awarded one
of two national Faculty Mentor of the Year awards at the
25th annual Institute on
Teaching and Mentoring in October in Arlington, Virginia. The
Institute is the nation’s largest annual gathering of
underrepresented minority Ph.D. students and college
faculty.
Reflecting on 25 years
of the Institute on Teaching and Mentoring
As one of only three people who have attended every Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, Dr. Robert (Bob) Belle, the longtime associate director of the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program, reflects on the Institute’s growth and importance, marking the 25th year of the conference.
Changing the face of college faculty
25 Years of Increasing Faculty Diversity
SREB’s Doctoral Scholars Program is marking its 25th year of service to the South and the nation, having helped nearly 1,000 historically underrepresented students graduate with a Ph.D. Another 400 doctoral students are now working on a Ph.D. through the program. Nearly three out of four graduates of the program are teaching in college classrooms, in 43 states and counting. Despite this progress, the situation remains dire. Major shortages of faculty members of color persist, as many older professors retire and the nation’s student demographics continue to shift substantially.
DSP Graduate Featured on PBS NewsHour Segment
Congratulations to SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program graduate Dr. Lorrie Frasure-Yokley, an associate professor of political science at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her work as a faculty mentor was highlighted in a PBS NewsHour special series. The interview with Dr. Frasure-Yokley appears in the weekly Making the Grade series segment. ”How faculty mentors can help first-generation students succeed.”
It’s All About Community
An interview with Ansley Abraham
What’s the best advice to propel a doctoral candidate toward a successful completion of their Ph.D. goal? According to Dr. Ansley Abraham, director of the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program, it boils down to connecting with “people who are vested in your success.”
Dr. Abraham has been doling out that advice to doctoral students for over 25 years. In the article below, originally published on the blog – Grad | Logic: Navigating the Ups and Downs of Graduate School, Dr. Abraham shared some of his wisdom in an interview with Dr. Chris Golde.
Why supporting doctoral students of color is more important than ever
Twenty-five years ago, the South was graduating so few Ph.D. students of color that, in some fields, the annual number of graduates could fit into the same car.
Fortunately that has changed, but not enough to graduate all the scholars of color we need.
My Mother Proved It Was Possible
The daughter of a DSP grad shares how her mother inspired her
In summer 2016, six pairs of SREB Doctoral Scholars entered the StoryCorps Atlanta booth to talk about their experiences as minority Ph.D. scholars and graduates in higher education. One pair discussed their struggles with isolationism and impostor syndrome; another spoke of the impact their research has had on their development not just as students, but as individuals who care deeply about the people they are serving. Nanette, a DSP graduate, sat down with her daughter Alyssa to share their experiences with mentorship. Dr.
Fewer than 1 in 10 professors are someone of color
The SREB DSP addresses the issue of faculty diversity
Today, a third of students entering American universities are minorities, yet among the faculty fewer than 1 in 10 is someone of color. Who stands at the front of the room matters.
The SREB DSP looks to address the issue of faculty diversity on college campuses by increasing graduates, supporting public service projects of graduates and acknowledging the research interest of DSP scholars.
See how the SREB DSP is helping states meet this need.
“He Always Said What Needed to Be Said…”
Chanell Turner, Publications and Programming Assistant for the Doctoral Scholars Program, talks with former SREB President Mark Musick as he remembers former SREB Vice Chair Charlie Reed’s impact on the Doctoral Scholars Program and his passion for education.
20 Tips to Survive Graduate School
The Ph.D. journey is full of twists and turns that are easier to navigate with guidance from those who have already walked the path. We asked DSP scholars and Institute attendees to submit graduate school survival tips for those who are still on the journey.
Set goals and balance your time
1. Begin with the end in mind. Have a sense of where you want to be when you graduate and take steps to make sure you are properly prepared when you reach that goal.