Ep. 214: Dr. Terrion Williamson on the Current Attack on Black Studies and Pursuing a PhD After Going to Law School
Ph.D. in American Studies & Ethnicity University of Southern CaliforniaDr. Terrion Williamson
Today we speak with Dr. Terrion Williamson, an associate professor of Black Studies and Gender and Women's Studies at the University of Illinois Chicago. Originally from Peoria, Illinois, Dr. Williamson didn’t have an awareness of what it would mean to go to grad school and completed a law degree before she found the career path most suited to her. In this episode, she joins us to talk about her journey. Tuning in you’ll hear about how growing up in the Midwest shaped her and why she chose to go back there. This leads to a discussion about the tension between objectivity and subjectivity in the work we do in Black, feminist, or gender studies. Dr. Williamson shares how she deals with the backlash against Black studies and feminist studies and the utilities of these as valid academic scholarly pursuits. You’ll also hear more about her career path, why she chose to do her doctoral program in California, her top highlights and biggest challenges, and the importance of considering the culture and ecosystem of an educational institution before choosing to study there. To hear all this as well as Dr. Williamson’s advice to current and prospective Black women and non-binary doctoral students, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
• An introduction to Dr. Terrion Williamson and who she is outside of work.
• Dr. Williamson’s doctoral program, dissertation, and career path.
• What it means to her to be a product of the Midwest and why she chose to go back there.
• The tension between objectivity and subjectivity in the work we do in Black, feminist, or gender studies.
• How Dr. Williamson deals with the backlash against Black studies and feminist studies and the utilities of these as valid academic scholarly pursuits.
• How and why Dr. Williamson decided to get both a law degree and a Ph.d.
• Why she chose to do her doctoral program in California.
• Her top highlight and biggest challenge at USC.
• The importance of considering the culture and ecosystem of an educational institution
before choosing to study there.
• What it was like for her to transition into being a professor.
• Why she would do a better job of advocating for herself if she could do her doctoral degree again.
• Dr. Williamson’s advice to current and prospective Black women and non-binary doctoral students.
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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.
