Maryland graduate student Christina Sessoms advocates for Black women joy in doctoral dissertation

University of Maryland American studies graduate student Christina Sessoms smiles bright as she nears the end of her doctorate degree. (Malisha Cooper-Suggs)

As an American studies doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland, Christina Sessoms uses her seven-year long research to advocate for Black women by understanding their presence through joy. 

The light at the end of a tunnel never seemed so bright for Sessoms as she stares down the final months before delivering her doctoral dissertation. After receiving her bachelor's degree in Comparative Ethnic Studies from Washington State University, she enrolled at the University of Maryland in 2015 to pursue her master’s degree and doctorate in American studies. 

Sessoms recognizes the joy she obtains through relationships with her family, friends and colleagues, which she calls her “village.”

The 28-year-old joy advocate trusts her village to propel her closer to delivering her “baby” – her doctoral dissertation, on May 3, 2022. 

“I research the living experiences of Black women in Ph.D. programs, who transitioned directly from their undergrad into Ph.D. programs. I argue that it is a very unique transition because for a majority of people who go into Ph.D. programs, they have some type of work experience or have their master’s degree,” said Sessoms. “When you're 20 to 21 coming into a Ph.D. program, that's a whole different ball game. I try to understand their presence through joy.”

She compares the tedious process of research, data collection and interviewing 14 Black women, to the nurturing care a mother gives its child in the womb for nine months. 

“It's crazy because a woman takes nine months to go ahead and birth a child. You literally put in blood, sweat and tears into creating this child. If you were to use that same analogy, that's the dissertation to a doctoral candidate,” said Sessoms. “The amount of countless nights of staying up; crying, skipping out on birthdays, baby showers, all these different things, because you're so drained. That will go into your dissertation.” 

According to the University of Maryland’s American Studies Ph.D. program, doctoral candidates are required to research and deliver an oral and written dissertation prior to receiving their doctoral diploma. The research for the dissertation project can begin as soon as their junior and senior year of an undergraduate degree. Candidates are required to present their research findings and defend their truths in front of a public forum and their department chair. 

For Sessoms, her biggest challenge is compiling five chapters, that average between 27 to 45 pages in length, into a 20 minute presentation. As she undergoes the ambush of questions and critique, she will find joy in defending her decisions of her thought provoking analysis, and acknowledge her village that motivates her to grasp her dreams. 

“When we say in the Black community, ‘it takes a village.’ That's the truth, there's no absolute way that I would make it through this process without my biological family, but also my chosen family,” said Sessoms, as she reminisced the importance of her loved ones..

Sessoms has found strength in her village’s unconditional love and support. She knows her loved ones will be alongside her as she delivers her truths to the department committee and chair. 

Sessoms spoke highly of her 80-year-old grandfather’s ability to motivate her by inputting words of wisdom and intelligence on their weekly phone calls. Dr. Isaiah Sessoms received his Ph.D. in education from Cornell University, and is the only family member to earn his doctoral diploma thus far. 

On Maryland’s campus, Sessoms takes pride in building other people's villages. She is a graduate assistant at the Career Center’s educational and exposure department, a teacher assistant for PSYC123: The Psychology of Getting Hired and the vice president of the Black Graduate Student Union. 

Above are polls conducted by students in the PSYC123: The Psychology of Getting Hired. The blue side is how students felt prior to taking the course, and the red is how students felt before exiting the course. (Erica Ely/ University of Maryland Career Center)

Erica Ely, the Assistant Director of Maryland’s Career Center, mentioned Sessoms’ authenticity, efficacious energy  and unique intuition that separates herself from other colleagues. 

“Christina brings a lot of joy into the room — whether it is on Zoom or in real life.  She will come by my office and do the leg-spread-out jump with some jazz hands with a solid ‘good morning!’ at the entry to my office door that often brings me a bit of a startle and then a laugh,” said Ely. “On the other side, there are some days where the energy just isn't there and that is definitely okay, too.  She keeps it real and doesn't bring toxic positivity; she brings authentic feelings and self to our office and space and it is so appreciated,” added Ely. 

As Sessoms assists others in building their own village, her passion to help others influences her friends to do the same. University of Maryland graduate students and members of Black Graduate Student Union, Blake O’Neal and Jehnae Linkins, spoke of  how much of an impact Sessoms has had on their village, and joked about “trying to be like her when they get older.”

“Christina is a friend, but over the years we have worked together, she has become a sister, she is a part of my village,” said O’Neal. “Watching her with other people has been really helpful for me. It makes me want to be that person for other people,” O’Neal added. 

The Black Graduate Student Union will host study table hours throughout the week, where students can join virtually or meet up on campus and work together. Sessoms has found these study table hours important to exchange thoughts and ideas about her dissertation.  

Sessoms attributes her growing passion and educational success to her rapport with her biological family and chosen family, she calls her friends. She eliminates the traditional objective approach that keeps researchers an “arm’s distance away,” by inviting challenging conversations, with the intent of progressing forward. 

Discussing timely topics like Women’s History Month and Black History Month  strengthen the foundation of her dissertation, and enable a consistent flow and balance of perspectives. The month of March is Women’s History Month, a month that Sessoms cares for just as much as Black History Month, but never felt like it was for her. 

“It does not encompass all women, at this point. For me, Women’s History Month is to celebrate Black women and Black women only,” said Sessoms. 

As a Black woman, she is prideful, but acknowledges the unique struggles that not every person can relate to, but can grow to understand. Her passion to pursue her doctoral diploma is ever growing with the unconditional support from her village. 

“It is wild for me to think someone could make it through this process without their family.”