What drew you to social policy research and why did you choose Heller's PhD program?
As a white person born in Africa, early childhood experiences and an awareness of how race is treated differently in different parts of the world drew me to anti-racism research. It wasn't until after acquiring a cognitive disability in a car crash in 2006 that I became interested in disability work. I had to self-advocate both in the workplace and at school as a student in a master’s program, and learned firsthand that disability accommodations are not as easily accessible as they seem to be on paper. Additionally, living overseas in my twenties, I encountered a lot of issues with gender-based violence policy not being implemented. Experiencing this gap between policies and implementation showed me that I really needed to do something with my personal experiences. At Heller, I saw an incredible opportunity to focus on all three areas—anti-racism, disability and gender-based violence—and ultimately use my voice to make a positive difference.
Tell me about your dissertation research. How did you decide what you wanted to focus on?
I chose to explore the intersections of racism, ableism and gender-based violence in the special ed to prison pipeline. Having worked with youth in a variety of different programs, including as a caregiver and aid for people with disabilities, I’ve observed that Black or Latinx people with disabilities not only have a much harder time getting helpful accommodations, they are also more likely to get punished or even kicked out of programs and schools for disability-based behaviors.
At Heller, I had the opportunity to do a fellowship with Anita Hill on gender-based violence, a topic I had previously researched specifically in Ireland and India during my master's program. During my two summer fellowships, my research showed me that the special ed to prison pipeline is a system that pushes people toward situations where they are more vulnerable to gender-based violence, an area that is understudied. I ended up writing a three-paper dissertation that focused on various aspects, including the legal protections in schools, policies and their implementation, and the theories behind disability policy. As part of my third paper, I interviewed various people about their experiences, and found that many of them had never been asked to tell their stories before—that motivated me to finish the dissertation. I wasn’t just writing it for me, I was writing it for everyone who could potentially be impacted by this work.
Tell me about your current roles. What skills or experiences from the Heller PhD program have been the most valuable in your career so far?
I'm adjuncting at a few different schools, including Georgia Military College, which offers college extension programs for under-resourced high schools in Atlanta, where I teach sociology and law and ethics. I also teach college students, many of whom are military veterans. They're a population that has not been empowered to use their experiences for policy change. I see my role for both the high school and college students as being part professor and part organizer, facilitating a sense of empowerment and helping them to find ways to turn their observations into power, and their frustrations into action.
I'm also involved in a couple of different policy advocacy groups, including the Gender and Disability Justice Alliance. The Heller PhD has prepared me to take the lead on projects—I was recently the main author on a shadow report on gender-based violence against people with disabilities in the United States, which was sent to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Similar to my dissertation, incorporating lived experiences continues to be an essential part of my practice.
How would you describe the Heller community and what role did it play in your PhD experience?
One of the things I love most about Heller is the strong sense of community and collaboration. I was constantly surrounded by fantastic peers both inside and outside of my PhD cohort. I was a TA for Raj Sampath, and students from those classes still reach out to me for support and advice. Through Heller connections, I’ve been recruited to work as the disability subject matter expert on three separate consulting projects with Massachusetts state agencies on more equitable hiring and employment practices. From the beginning, we're empowered to share our research interests and expertise. There’s a strong culture of respect where we can draw from one another's backgrounds instead of feeling like we're competing for the same opportunities. My cohort was constantly building each other up, and I know we all are better for it.
What advice would you give to prospective students considering a Heller PhD in social policy?
Firstly, at Heller, you really get to carve out your niche, so it’s helpful to come into the program with a strong sense of purpose. Second, building relationships is key—with professors, mentors, colleagues, etc. Being active in groups is another great way to make connections. As head of the Heller Disability Working Group, I was able to work with and mentor master’s and PhD students. We learned so much from each other and created opportunities to collaborate. Your community can take you far, and it was ultimately the most valuable thing that I got out of Heller.