Dr. Mikal Woldu on Switching Academic Supervisors & Redefining Pan-Africanism

04/26/23 • 45 min

In this episode of Cohort Sistas, the podcast, we speak with Dr. Mikal Woldu, who received her Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from SOAS University of London. Dr. Woldu is of Eritrean heritage and grew up in Italy before moving to London. This migratory pattern both shaped her personal life and informed her research questions, primarily dealing with the practices and attitudes of second-generation Africans in the Diaspora. During our conversation with Dr. Woldu, we discuss how just one person in her Master’s program convinced her to enroll in graduate school, why her research is so much more extensive than just her, and how she advocated for and switched her academic supervisor partway through her doctoral program. She talks about her post-doc project and how they are redefining Pan-Africanism. Dr. Woldu gives incredibly insightful advice regarding the Ph.D. journey and leaves listeners encouraged. Tune in for this insightful conversation with Dr. Woldu!
If you are a Black woman interested in joining the Cohort Sistas community or you’re looking for more information on how to support or partner with Cohort Sistas, please visit our site at www.cohortsistas.com.

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Join the Cohort Sistas community at community.cohortsistas.org

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Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to follow the Cohort Sistas podcast, rate, and leave us a quick review wherever you’re listening.

Thank you for listening!

Leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!

Join the Cohort Sistas community at community.cohortsistas.org

Visit our website to learn more about our programs and how you can support at cohortsistas.org

Email us at [email protected] to connect, ask questions, or suggest guests

Previous Episode

Dr. Kristen Nichole on Balancing Research & Entrepreneurship and Pole Movement as Stress Relief

Today’s guest Dr. Kristen Nichole turned to pole movement as a way to cope with the stress of doing a Ph.D. This led her to start her business, Polecology, while continuing to work in qualitative research. In this episode, she shares her story with us. Tuning in you’ll hear about her Ph.D. in Applied Community and Social Psychology, her dissertation project on identity and counter-storytelling among emerging adult writing leaders, and how she completed her degree with a brand new baby. She explains how she became interested in psychology and decided to do a Ph.D., despite getting a C in AP Psychology. We also discuss the importance of developing relationships with faculty members to gain the research experience necessary for a doctoral degree, the pros and cons of going straight from undergrad to Ph.D., and what to consider before choosing a university. To hear her story of how her Ph.D. and her knowledge of storytelling informs her work in teaching movement, as well as countless helpful tips and advice for anyone pursuing a doctoral program, tune in today!
If you are a Black woman interested in joining the Cohort Sistas community or you’re looking for more information on how to support or partner with Cohort Sistas, please visit our site at www.cohortsistas.com.

Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to follow the Cohort Sistas podcast, rate, and leave us a quick review wherever you’re listening.

Thank you for listening!

Leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!

Join the Cohort Sistas community at community.cohortsistas.org

Visit our website to learn more about our programs and how you can support at cohortsistas.org

Email us at [email protected] to connect, ask questions, or suggest guests

Next Episode

Dr. Marvette Lacy on Scrappy Roots to Successful Dissertation Completion and Business Building

The story we bring to life today is that of Dr. Marvette Lacy, the Founder, and CEO of Qual Scholars, a coaching and membership program that helps higher education professionals and doctoral students finish their dissertations and build consulting businesses. Dr. Lacy received her Ph.D. in college student affairs and administration from the University of Georgia. In this episode, Dr. Lacy tells us about her dissertation and how she decided on the topic, and also shares what initially inspired her to pursue a doctoral degree. We hear about how the scrappiness that she needed for survival growing up in Chicago was helpful in graduate school and she tells us about the culture shock she first experienced stepping into the University of Georgia. Tune in now to hear more about how she came back from academic probation after her first year, navigated fallouts with mentors, and employs the Sistas Circle research methodology in her work today. Enjoy.
If you are a Black woman interested in joining the Cohort Sistas community or you’re looking for more information on how to support or partner with Cohort Sistas, please visit our site at www.cohortsistas.com.

Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to follow the Cohort Sistas podcast, rate, and leave us a quick review wherever you’re listening.

Thank you for listening!

Leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!

Join the Cohort Sistas community at community.cohortsistas.org

Visit our website to learn more about our programs and how you can support at cohortsistas.org

Email us at [email protected] to connect, ask questions, or suggest guests