Blk + In Grad School

Zach is a second year Graphic Design MFA student at Iowa State University. His thesis is investigating the barriers and pain points associated with being a Black graphic art/graphic design student. We talk about the work he does to decolonize design in his courses and with his colleagues. His story gives us insight and inspiration to keep fighting for better academic institutions for ourselves and future scholars. It's a candid conversation and timely with one (of many) ways to keep the momentum for the change we seek as Black folx in academic.

Follow him and get inspired on IG @Zach_frazier.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Nicole Vick has spent the last fifteen years providing tools and strategies to stakeholders, community-based organizations, students, and residents to improve health and prevent disease in some of Los Angeles County’s most underserved communities. She's built a life of purpose as a public health professional, businesswoman and now author.

On this episode we talk about her life and she shares both the heartbreaking pain and the extraordinary triumphs that led her to advocacy and social justice work. Her early years of self-doubt and discomfort in her own skin would set her up for decades of bad choices and difficult situations: a teen pregnancy that could have derailed a lifelong dream. Nicole channeled challenging moments of her life into prime opportunities for personal growth. She shares skills she used to connect, build, and create community, comradery, and a sense of purpose.

This is all a precursor to Nicole's book, Pushing Through, which just took the #1 spot in Amazon's healthcare category! She gives a glimpse of what she shares in the book. It's such a motivating story because it's a 'real human' story. Nicole's stories are real, making her success feel equally real and possible for us still in grad school. I think it's especially moving for non-traditional grad students, public health grad students, and mothers in grad school. Listen our convo and then check out Pushing Through available now on Amazon and available in print in the fall.

You can follow Nicole on Instagram @nicoledvick.

On Sunday I went on IG live with Vanessa (@nessiethegreat94 on Instagram) a UMN PhD student who has been provided nearly $15,000 worth of supplies to protesters and those in need in Minneapolis. We talk about ways that graduate students can involved locally, responding to support from non-Black folk and more. This is mostly a conversation, recording a moment in what we hope— and some feel—is the beginning of some real concrete progress in America.

It's a new podcast episode! I know grad students are busy so I figured folks who are short on time could use a quick overview of the sessions! In less than 30 minutes I recap 6+ hours of the virtual summit!

Thanks again to the sponsor of this episode INI sips! You can get 15% off your first order with code BLK+INGRADSCHOOL.

Wanna watch the replays? Get access to the replays at gradschoolsummit.com