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Rachel Cason's Journey Through Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Doctorate of Education Program

When she first set foot on Â鶹ÊÓƵ's campus as a young girl attending a leadership camp, she couldn't have known that years later, she would return to earn her doctorate. But for this recent Doctorate of EducationÌý(EdD) graduate, Â鶹ÊÓƵ has been a recurring touchpoint throughout her life's journey—from volleyball camp in high school to a college internship with Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Community and Social Change program, and finally, to the culmination of her educational path.

American already felt like home to me. I believed that Â鶹ÊÓƵ's commitment to educational equity and community-centered change was authentic based on my various experiences at Â鶹ÊÓƵ throughout my adolescence and early adulthood.

A Commitment to Antiracism and Social Justice

What drew her to Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Doctor of Education program was its explicit commitment to antiracism and social justice—the only one she found, and exactly what she was looking for. This alignment with her own values proved to be transformative, providing a framework that would shape her research methodology and professional identity.

One of my 'ah-ha' moments during the program was that antiracism wasn't about the demographic of people we were doing the research with. It wasn't about the 'topic' of our dissertations. Instead it lived in the methodology. Every research move I made was a reflection of my commitment to antiracism.

Her Â鶹ÊÓƵ experience became a deeply personal journey that reinforced her commitment to reimagining education through an antiracist lens. The curriculum provided both theoretical foundations and practical applications that enabled her to develop as both a scholar and practitioner.

Courses that Transformed Her Perspective

Several courses stood out as particularly influential during her Â鶹ÊÓƵÌýjourney: Systems Thinking, Conscious Leadership, School Finance, and Building Teams.

These courses influenced the ways I thought about racist problems, antiracist solutions, and my positionality as a transformational leader in a system that is inherently resistant to change. Together these courses shaped my lens as a scholar while grounding my work as a practitioner.

The program's emphasis on critical thinking and systemic analysis gave her tools to address complex educational challenges. Rather than viewing problems in isolation, she learned to examine the interconnected factors that perpetuate inequities in education and to develop comprehensive approaches to creating meaningful change.

Perseverance Through Personal Transformation

Her academic journey coincided with profound personal challenges and life transitions. "I became a mom, got divorced, moved to a different city, and started a new job," she shares, reflecting both the difficulty and triumph of this period.

These experiences, while incredibly challenging, taught her valuable lessons about resilience and community. "The grief was deeply personal, and the biggest challenge I overcame was understanding that it's okay to ask for help. It's okay for life to not look the way you thought it would. It's okay to tune into your heart and face your fears."

The support she received from faculty, peers, and her personal network proved essential to her ability to persevere through these difficult moments. "I overcame not in my own strength, but by God's grace, and through the love and support of my Village," she says.

Her experience speaks to the importance of community in academic success—a value that Â鶹ÊÓƵ cultivates through cohort-based learning and supportive faculty relationships. The connections formed during her time in the program provided both academic collaboration and emotional support during challenging times.

Looking Forward with Purpose

As she looks to the future beyond graduation, her plans remain rooted in the values and skills developed during her time at Â鶹ÊÓƵ.Ìý

I plan to keep partnering with schools and communities to re-imagine education unburdened by the chains of schooling. I plan to keep sharing the stories of Black women and Black girls. I plan to spend more time with my son and secure a role that honors my identities as a mother, a scholar, and a teacher.

Her approach to career development reflects the holistic perspective fostered by her doctoral education—one that integrates personal values, scholarly interests, and commitment to creating positive change in educational systems.

Words of Wisdom and Gratitude

For those considering following in her footsteps, she offers advice that reflects the dynamic nature of doctoral dissertation: "Be open to the iterative nature of this process. Don't be beholden to one plan, and instead embrace the journey of discovery and re-imagination."

As she celebrates this academic milestone, she extends heartfelt messages to those who have been part of her journey. To her fellow students in cohorts eight and nine, she offers encouragement: "You belong here. Keep going. Everything you write is useful."

To her cohort seven colleagues, she shares: "May you continue to find the balance between 'we who believe in freedom cannot rest' and 'rest is resistance.' I love y'all. We did it!"

Her most poignant expressions of gratitude are reserved for family. To her parents, she says: "Thank you for being my safe place to land. Thank you for always believing in me and making my joy a priority. I love you more than words could ever express."

And to her son Leo, a message that encapsulates the deep personal meaning behind her academic achievement: "Son, thank you for riding with me through every phase of this journey and for being the best part of every day. I love you, and I'm so proud to be your Mama.