It's "D" Day!

Today is the day - I defend my dissertation!  I couldn't sleep much last night and find myself a little weepy today as I think about the road that led me here.  I mean, really can you even imagine that I am getting my doctorate? I know my family and friends enough that I can hear them saying "of course you did it!"  But looking back on my life I am humbled to think that I wasn't even suppose to go to college.  I was never in the college prep track and found most of my success outside the classroom.  Yet somehow God had a plan for my life that included education.

Thinking about this afternoon and all that has led to today I am extremely grateful for those who have shown their support as I have worked to complete my research.  Thank you to each of you who have encouraged me, made me laugh in stressful moments, gave me a shoulder to cry on when I was frustrated, and walked this journey with me.  You were wonderful when I couldn't stop talking about my study and gave me grace when I was distracted and unavailable.

Today as I go into my defense my greatest prayer is that I can convey not only the details of the study, but also reflect stories of the female presidents of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) with passion and integrity.  I was given a gift, an opportunity to sit will all current female presidents of the CCCU and hear their journey to the presidency. Today I get to tell the story!  Of course today is more about defending my research, but I find it so exciting it's hard to think of it as just that.

So as I go into this day I am reminded I was given a gift.  I am thankful for those who have walked the journey with me and humbled that I was given this opportunity.  I will end this blog with the last paragraph of my dissertation...

Overall, the opportunity to focus this study on the perceptions of women’s decisions to go for the presidency and to understand how female presidents describe the trajectory toward attainment was a tremendous gift.  Professionally, I am challenged to make a way for future female leaders; personally, I am confronted with the realities of attainment; and spiritually, I am reminded of my deep dependence on God for the future ahead.

 

(Photo taken on one of the college campuses I visited)