Dr. Terrion Williamson on the Current Attack on Black Studies and Pursuing a PhD After Going to Law School

The Cohort Sistas Podcast

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!
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