My Experience I Elaine N' Lalanne, PhD

1
My Experience IElaine N. Lalanne, PhD

• I was inspired to obtain my doctorate degree by
  Dr Anthony Johnson who later became my PhD
  advisor
• As the only black PhD student in Applied Physics
  at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), it
  was a struggle for the first two years
• The majority of the students were foreign
  students.
• Many of the difficulties in interacting with
  foreign students are due to cultural and language
  barriers
• There were three American students, myself and
  two white males
• Found it extremely difficult to form study groups
  with most of the students
• NJIT did not have a strong graduate student
  organization and was closely monitored by office
  of the Graduate Studies

2
My Experience II

• The Graduate Studies office offer only one
  workshop/program that dealt with academic and
  professional development, dissertation writing
• Did not provide a sense of community or support
  in increasing the retention rate
• An outlet was not available for the student to
  interact with each other
• In the third year of the program, I was a part of
  a study group with two foreign students from
  Africa- -- vital in successfully passing the
  qualifiers exams
• In taking courses in the Math department, the
  experience was differentthe students worked
  together and easily formed study group

3
Positive Changes I

• Research group
• My advisor encouraged members of his research
  group to work together.
• It was mandatory to practice our talks in front
  of the group for all conference presentations and
  the dissertation defense
• We were required to present at the major
  technical conferences
• We had students from Columbia, Nigeria, Ivory
  Coast and Dominican Republic

4
Positive Changes II

• NJIT Physics Department
• In the latter years of my PhD education, the
  Physics graduate program director made a
  concerted effort to encourage all the students to
  work together and form study groups
• A graduate student office space was made
  available which encouraged the students to
  interact which each other and form friendship.
• The physics graduate students co-hosted the
  holiday party, which enabled the students to
  interact with the faculty and fellow students
• My interaction with other students increased my
  friendships continue to the present day

5
At UMBC

• There is a strong commitment from the University
  administrators and faculty in retention of
  students in the various PhD programs.
• There is a successful program entitled PROMISE,
  which is geared towards graduate students which
  provide academic and professional support
• The UMBC has a strong graduate student
  association (GSA) which is student run and is
  very vocal in voicing students concerns
• Students are encouraged to interact with one
  another.
• There are various workshops, such as writing
  technical papers and giving oral and poster
  presentations and writing dissertation
• Professional development workshops such as CV
  samples , teaching portfolios, conferences ,
  finances and lab management
• Students are encouraged to present at
  conferences

6
Conclusion

• Advisors can be a major positive force in helping
  to foster interaction between his/her students
• The department can take an active role in
  encouraging the interaction between American and
  foreign students
• Once cultural and language barriers are
  transcended, its a personality issue which can
  either enhance or impede cooperation and
  collaboration with fellow scientists