Why FSU?

Applying for doctoral programs during a pandemic can be a real leap of faith. With campus visits and travel at an all time low, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I did, however, know that the Management faculty at Florida State were friendly, accomplished, and shared some of my research interests! I made my choice, hoping for the best and have consistently found my experience to be better than I could’ve imagined.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I have always felt most at home in academia. I just keep coming back! Getting my PhD is a necessary step towards building a career in doing what I love: exploring knowledge frontiers, sharing what I have learned, and equipping others.

Importance of research and work

I am still developing my research concentration. I am, however, most interested in the intersection between entrepreneurship and systemic inequality. My work explores how institutional contexts shape the opportunity structures of historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs; how the attributes of entrepreneurs interact with their environment to influence their strategic decisions; why and how entrepreneurs serve their communities; and how they reshape the opportunity structures they navigate. These questions are more than ongoing research conversations, they are important for understanding how to build a more just and humane society.

Accomplishments during graduate school

I am a former UNCF Social Entrepreneurship Fellow and Kemper Scholar. I am a 2020 recipient of the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship. I also presented at a management conference for the first time in fall 2021.

Advice for prospective graduate students

Find a program that will allow you to learn what you need to know to do the things you want to do… but also be open-minded. The knowledge you need might not always come in the package/discipline you expect.

Career Aspirations

I would like to become a professor.