Miami University Student Affairs in Higher Education Ph.D. Program

Congratulations to Dr. Lauren Brassfield who passed her dissertation defense last week! Dr. Brassfield's dissertation is titled: "The lived experiences of Black women staff navigating predominantly white institutions." We're so proud of you and the critical scholarship that you are producing.

Image description: A screenshot of 28 people on a Zoom call smiling after Lauren, who is on the top row, passed her dissertation defense.

Congratulations to Dr. Ahjah Johnson who defended her dissertation: Critical Expressions: Portraitures of Black Women Graduate Students. This study is grounded in Black Feminist Theory, misogynoir, and adultification theory to explore the manifestation of Black women graduate student’s formation of Grown Black Woman Voice, a framework that emphasizes Black women’s development of voice to construct their own existence in academia. We are so proud of your critical scholarship and eager to continue following your career and the ways you will continue to impact the lives of Black women graduate students. Congratulations, Dr. Johnson!

Congratulations to Dr. Katrina Calhoun, who successfully defended her dissertation: "We Still Believe: Black Mothers, Faith, and the Graduate School Experience." Rooted in womanism and faith development, Dr. Calhoun's research reveals the ways in which Black mothers define, conceptualize, and embody faith to navigate the systemic and institutional barriers they faced in graduate school. We are so proud of your accomplishment, and look forward to the many contributions your research will make to scholarship and the lives of Black student mothers!

This week marks the beginning of interview days for our M.S. 2023-2024 Cohort. We are so excited to meet many talented individuals. If you are joining us this week, stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram to get reminders on virtual sessions.

Today we offer an optional preparatory interview workshop as well as several community conversation for our BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Disabled, and/or International Student and English as a Second Language student communities.

Miami University Student Affairs in Higher Education M.S. Program is pleased to offer a number of opportunities to connect with and learn about our SAHE program in the coming weeks and months. Learn more about our program below or sign up for an interest session!
https://forms.gle/6XrRpUnLWK617P5R9

Congratulations to Dr. Mika Karikari who successfully defended her dissertation, Unapologetically Black: A Sista Circle Study Highlighting the Brilliant, Bold, and Brave Leadership Approaches of Black Women in Student Affairs. (Advisor: Elisa Abes)

This critical study guided by Black Feminist Thought and infused with poetry centers the ways in which Black women practice and experience leadership. It adds to the scholarship on Black Feminist Leadership through its emphasis on non-positional and communal leadership. Her use of sista circle methodology demonstrates the power of Black Feminist Methodology, centering not only the product but also the empowering process of data collection.

Dr. Karikari modeled perseverance and authenticity in completing this unapologetically Black dissertation by and for Black women. Congratulations on this wonderful accomplishment!

We're overdue with updates on our PhD students' accomplishments. To start us off....

At the end of Fall semester, we had four doctoral students successfully pass their comprehensive exams and become doctoral candidates. Congratulations to Kiana Asada, Katrina Calhoun, Tristen Hall, and Ahjah Johnson!

Kiana is studying Ableism and the College Experiences of Students with Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Katrina is studying Black Mothers, Faith, and the Graduate School Experience.

Tristen is studying Intragroup Dynamics in a Multicultural Center.

Ahjah is studying the Development of a "Grown Black Woman Voice."

Congratulations to these four wonderful students, and we are looking forward to their completed dissertations and the critical contributions each will make.

Congratulations to Dr. Shana Oates who successfully defended her dissertation: A Spectrum of Support: A Case Study Examining Autistic Students' Experiences in Higher Education (Advisor: Elisa Abes).

This critical disability study explores the social, academic, and emotional experiences of autistic college students participating in an autism-specific support program at one university. This study has implications for how educators must work against the ableism that is pervasive in higher education to create more inclusive campuses for autistic students.

Congratulations, Dr. Oates, and best wishes in your new faculty position!

Congratulations to Dr. Jaymee Lewis-Flenaugh who successfully defended her dissertation: Self-Definition as Workplace Practice for Black Women Senior Housing Officers in Higher Education: A Sista Circle Study (Advisor: Elisa Abes).

This critical scholarship, grounded in Black Feminist Thought, shows how Black women use their self-definition in the workplace to combat, challenge, and re-define Black womanhood as organizational leaders. Although there are costs, what is gained for these women is control of their narratives as Black women leaders and an understanding of their expertise. Dr. Lewis-Flenaugh's scholarship speaks to the need for organizations to change, not Black women.

We hold our Asian American and Pacific Islander and Asian students, alums, and colleagues in our hearts as we continue to witness white supremacy negate the horrific hate crimes committed against Asian American women this week. This week’s violence is in addition to the thousands of Asian American hate crimes over the past year, and reflective of a larger narrative about Asian and Asian American racialization with the U.S. The Miami University SAHE program stands in solidarity against Asian and Asian American hate.

A fuller statement, with resources from which to learn more, prepared by SAHE faculty member Dr. Katherine Cho follows:
www.katscho.com/blog/statement-on-atlanta

Statement on Atlanta The following are portions and updates of the statement I wrote for the program in which I am a faculty member. I pasted it here for folx who might want resources, learn more, need a base for how you...

✨SAHE Spotlight✨meet Joe Palencia! Joe is a 4th year PhD student from Chicago, IL. His associateship is teaching, research, and administration (TRA). Something interesting about Joe is that he considers himself a foodie and enjoys supporting local, family-owned businesses! He also documents his food adventures via his Instagram account! 🥘🍛🍲🍝

✨SAHE spotlight✨ meet Shana Oates! Shana is a 4th year PhD student from St. Louis, Missouri! Her associateship is working with SAHE doing teaching, research, administration, and coordinating interview days. Something interesting about Shana is that she started playing the piano at age 5! 🎹