Ep. 205 Dr. Lauren Kendall Brooks on Why She Intentionally Pursued a Doctoral Degree at an HBCU and Co-Founding Black in Pysch
Ph.D. in Health Psychology Virginia State UniversityDr. Lauren Kendall Brooks
During today’s episode, we welcome Dr. Lauren D. Kendall Brooks, who holds a Ph.D. in Health Psychology with a concentration in behavioral and community health science. She is a research scientist at Assessment for Good where she works on building innovative assessments, academic resilience in Black and Latinx adolescents and college students, and health disparities as it relates to academic achievement. Tuning in, you’ll hear why Dr. Kendall Brooks pursued a doctoral degree at an HBCU, how she navigated a relationship with a partner who was also a student, how current and aspiring Black scholars can get plugged into the Black in Psych community, and more!
Key Points From This Episode:
• An introduction to Dr. Lauren D. Kendall Brooks and her work in behavioral and
community health science.
• Her background and interests outside of academia, including knitting and sewing.
• How her spouse, a children’s book illustrator, has helped her to connect to her creative
side.
• Her work as a research scientist at Assessment for Good.
• Researching math, math identity, and what creates student confidence.
• How working with educators sparked her interest in assessment.
• Her aunt’s advice to make money in corporate and then return to academia.
• Her doctorate at Virginia State University and why she chose the institution.
• How ecological systems theory applied to her research.
• Why her research in redefining what autism means today.
• How she knew she didn’t want to follow a clinical route.
• Why she specifically wanted to work with Dr. Oliver Hill Junior.
• Challenging aspects of the Ph.D. process including navigating focus with ADHD.
• Going outside the school in pursuit of her true interests.
• The experience of dating and marrying a fellow student.
• Black in Psych.
• Dr. Kendall Brooks describes her ideal future.
• Why she would have sought out treatment for ADHD much earlier.
• Her advice to listeners is to seek out support for any barriers they face.
• Why, given the chance, she would go back and disrupt the system a bit more.
• Advice for Black and Brown female and non-binary students: a done dissertation is a
good dissertation!
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The Cohort Sistas Podcast brings to life the stories, struggles, and successes of Black women and femmes with doctoral degrees and their lives beyond the degree. If you are a Black woman or non-binary scholar looking for resources, mentorship, and support along your doctoral journey, join the Cohort Sistas community. If you are looking for more information on how to support or partner with Cohort Sistas, please visit our partnerships page. Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to follow The Cohort Sistas Podcast, rate the show, and leave us a quick review.
