When I was in (one of many) should-I-stay-or-should-I-go loops during my doctoral program, a professor once asked:
"I'm hearing you're not sure if you want to be here. Why do other Black women's experiences in higher ed matter so much to you? What does that have to do with you?"

At the time, I didn’t have the words. But now, I do:
These experiences have everything to do with me.
With how we learn, lead, and live—in academia and beyond.

After finishing my dissertation, I wasn’t quite sure how to build on it. I knew what academia thought I should do. And I knew what did—and didn’t—feel aligned.
So, I created something that felt true. Something that honors the brilliance, the burden, and the complexity of being a Black woman in academic spaces.

I’m not revealing the name of the podcast just yet, but I am excited to share that Season 1 is coming soon. This season is all about "Being the Only"—the only Black woman in the room, the program, the department. We’re telling real, unfiltered stories of what it takes to stay, succeed, and thrive in a system that often doesn't see us, or tries to silence us.

If you’re a Black woman who has defended a master's thesis, a doctoral prospectus, or a full dissertation, I would love to hear from you.