Ep. 213: Dr. Toyin Alli of the Academic Society on Going Against the Grain & Trusting Your Decisions
Ph.D. in Mathematics The University of AlabamaDr. Toyin Alli
We are so lucky and excited to sit down with Dr. Toyin Alli in today's episode to talk about her inspiring and somewhat unusual path through academia, and why she chose to focus on teaching above all the other areas of the tertiary educational space. Dr. Alli also shares about her amazing company, the Academic Society, and its work helping students through developing time management, productivity, and self-care tools. Toyin is currently a senior lecturer at the University of Georgia and has been working full-time in teaching since she completed her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Alabama in 2016. Our guest generously shares a lot of insight and honest reflection from different points in her journey, from the summer programs she took part in, to finding her groove in teaching, and mentorship relationships that have helped her toward success. We also discuss the lack of encouragement for Black women and POC in the math field and the responsibility that Dr. Alli feels to shift this reality. So for all this and more from a truly dedicated and inspiring friend of the show, listen in now.
Key Points From This Episode:
• Dr. Alli talks about her doctoral training and the subject of her dissertation.
• The decision that Dr. Alli made to pursue education instead of business.
• The roots of Dr. Alli's love for math and its rules and organization!
• Pursuing math in undergrad and the summer research programs that helped her transition into focusing on math in graduate school.
• Dr. Alli's recollections of her application process and getting into the University of Alabama.
• Developing the habit of taking advantage of every available opportunity and program!
• Finding a place within a cohort and the relationships that Dr. Alli built.
• The funding that Dr. Alli was able to access over her three years in grad school.
• The learning curve for teaching and curriculum setting; challenges and successes.
• Dr. Alli's natural affinity and attraction to teaching.
• Difficult experiences and new areas of math that stretched Dr. Alli's abilities.
• The role of mentorships and the dearth of Black women available to Dr. Alli.
• The family culture present in Dr. Alli's upbringing and the lack of academic pressure she experienced.
• Dr. Alli's post-doctoral path; finding her teaching job, starting early, interviews, and more.
• A little about The Academic Society and how Dr. Alli finds time for this work too!
• Why Dr. Alli wishes she had trusted herself more during her doctoral degree.
• Time management advice from our guest for listeners currently working on their doctorate!
Find Dr. Alli on Social Media
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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.
