Dr. Brandi-Scholar Start, LLC

✨ Another Scholar Start success story! ✨

Today, we're celebrating Dr. Marissa and the completion of an incredible doctoral journey.

From navigating challenges to crossing the finish line, your perseverance and commitment never wavered. Your dissertation shines a light on the experiences of justice-impacted students and represents an important contribution to higher education research.

Thank you for allowing Scholar Start to support you along the way. We are honored to celebrate this milestone with you.

Congratulations, Dr. Marissa! 🎓💙

You can know your study cold and still get rattled at defense. Why?
Because committees don't just ask about your topic — they push on your thinking. Three questions tend to trip up most on defense day:
1️⃣ "Why this study?" — they want your justification, not your topic. Why now, why this gap, why you.
2️⃣ "Why this method?" — be ready to defend the alternatives you didn't pick. The trade-offs matter as much as the choice.
3️⃣ "What if you're wrong?" — the limitations question. Owning them confidently is what separates passing from praise.

Here's the good news: every one of these gets easier with rehearsal. Out loud. With someone who's been there. Before you're in the real room.

That's exactly what Final Rehearsal is for. Mock proposal/defense prep, real committee-style questions, doctors who've successfully defended sitting on the other side of the screen. 15 spots only.

👇🏾If you want to learn more, comment 'CONNECT' and I'll send you the details.

Most doctoral students don’t struggle because they don’t know their study.

They struggle because they haven’t practiced talking through it under pressure.

That moment when someone asks:
“Can you explain that a little deeper?”

You don’t want that to be the first time you’ve had to think it through.

Practice matters.

Comment: "mock" to learn more

Your topic should be something you care about—because you’re going to spend a lot of time with it.

But it also has to be grounded in the literature.
What does the research say?
Where is the gap?
What is still understudied?

That’s where your work lives.

The balance of both is what sets you up for a strong study.

Drop your research topic or area of interest in the comments—I’d love to see what you’re working on.

Your topic should be something you care about—because you’re going to spend a lot of time with it.

But it also has to be grounded in the literature.
What does the research say?
Where is the gap?
What is still understudied?

That’s where your work lives.

The balance of both is what sets you up for a strong study.

Drop your research topic or area of interest in the comments—I’d love to see what you’re working on.

You can be:
✔ tired
✔ over it
✔ behind
✔ questioning your topic

…and still finish your doctorate.

One day, one section, one revision at a time.

What part are you currently working on—purpose, research questions, or findings?

Today marks 2 years of Scholar Start and I’m just grateful.

Grateful for every doctoral student who trusted me, showed up, and allowed me to be part of their journey. Whether it was a conversation, a mock defense, or a moment of “I don’t know if I can do this”—you kept going. And that means everything.

Scholar Start was created to be a village—the kind of support I know so many of us need while navigating this journey. And over these two years, that’s exactly what it has become.

I’m also incredibly thankful for the team who stands in this work with me— Shannon, Heather,
Dr. Baker, Dr. Conway, Dr. Dansby-Clark, Dr. Morris, Dr. Sinclair, and Dr. Walton.
Your presence, your expertise, and your commitment to our scholars do not go unnoticed.

Together, we’ve supported scholars in walking across stages, defending their work, and stepping fully into who they’ve worked so hard to become.

And we’re not done.

We will continue to show up.
We will continue to support.
We will continue to make sure our scholars go from ABD to Dr.

From my heart—thank you for being part of this.

4 years ago today… I earned my PhD! 🎓✨
One of the hardest, most stretching, and rewarding journeys of my life. The late nights, revisions, research, presentations, and moments of “Can I really do this?” were all worth it.
Now I get to help other doctoral students navigate the journey through Scholar Start — from proposal to defense and every step in between. 🤍
If earning your doctorate is on your vision board, this is your sign to START. Reach out to me by commenting “start” so we can help you successfully complete the journey too! 🎉

4 years ago today… I earned my PhD! 🎓✨
One of the hardest, most stretching, and rewarding journeys of my life. The late nights, revisions, research, presentations, and moments of “Can I really do this?” were all worth it.

Now I get to help other doctoral students navigate the journey through Scholar Start — from proposal to defense and every step in between. 🤍

If earning your doctorate is on your vision board, this is your sign to START. Reach out to me by commenting “start” so we can help you successfully complete the journey too! 🎉

Proud to share this opportunity from the Barbara L. Jackson Scholars Network. I was honored to be a Jackson Scholar from 2019–2021, and it was an incredible experience connecting with doctoral students and scholars whose research continues to shape the field of educational leadership.

Deadline: June 1

Submit: https://ucea.org/jsn_nomination.php

🎓 Calling all aspiring doctoral students of color committed to academic careers in educational leadership!
The UCEA Jackson Scholars Network is now accepting 2026–2028 nominations!
Deadline: June 1, 2026
📩 Submit: https://ucea.org/jsn_nomination.php
Barbara L. Jackson Scholars Gsc