PHrienDs: Finding Connection, Purpose, and Collaboration Within the PhD Journey

• In Event: Transforming the Role of Educational Leader

Abstract

Entering a doctoral program can be an isolating experience, marked by competition and evaluation. For women, the challenge is compounded by their multifaceted roles in family and community. This project, "PHrienDs," explores the experiences of five women doctoral students from the United States, Ghana, and Egypt, who balance roles as scholars, caregivers, and community members. Guided by Critical Participatory Inquiry (CPI) and Feminist Praxis, our dialogues explore how we manage our responsibilities and support each other. Our findings highlight the importance of community and support systems in countering the competitive nature of academia, emphasizing the need for an academic ecosystem. We aim to provide insight for other women scholars through our paper.

Authors

• Allyson Leigh Morgan, University of Georgia

• Shereen Aly Mohamed Sayed, University of Georgia

• Alyson Wright, University of Georgia

• Comfort Ninson, University of Georgia

• Stacie Abdallah, University of Georgia