Day: August 28, 2021

oach
Experienced Dissertation Advisor – from Concept Development to Overcoming Obstacles:
The scholarly pursuit can be fraught with anxiety, judgment and competition, but it also presents an opportunity for self-transformation. I believe that is what most students are truly after. I regularly advise students, “when you do the work, the work works you.” The same kind of curiosity, earnest discipline, and contemplative skill that one brings to spiritual practice can make academic life abundantly rewarding.

With over 15 years of experience coaching and teaching graduate students I offer strong academic guidance and compassionate support in equal measure. I enable students to advance from vague topics to viable proposals with a researchable problem and a clearly articulated approach. Regularly Chairing 12 committees per year, I steered students through typical hurdles – both academic and psychological – and helped them produce creative and incisive work.

A unique dimension of my coaching is the use of Yoga Nidra. This type of guided meditation establishes intention at a deep level of consciousness and helps free creativity while loosening the bonds of crippling anxiety. As a certified Level II Yoga and Yoga Nidra instructor I have integrated these grounding and liberating practices to advance my own work. Students who are facing the daunting project of research and writing a dissertation find relief in a permission-giving practice that integrates body and mind, intellect and passion.

I offer services as an independent Dissertation Coach/Editor:
For assistance with the development of the dissertation concept paper or proposal, I provide two one-hour sessions by telephone or Skype and feedback on two separate drafts of the paper/proposal, up to 15 pages in length. The cost is $500.

I will provide extensive editorial feedback on one reading of an entire dissertation manuscript. Feedback covers organization, content and conceptual coherence, clarity of expression and style, and formatting according to appropriate disciplinary guidelines. I also accept single-chapter submissions for editorial review. The cost is $80/hour. The total cost will vary depending on the degree of feedback required and page length. On average a full manuscript review will cost between $800-$1,500. Bibliographical editing, which checks compliance with the required disciplinary style guidelines and corrects entries accordingly, is $100/hour.

Please allow one month for a full dissertation review. Rush orders are available for an additional $250 fee.

I offer one free 30-minute telephone consultation about your project and editorial needs, and how my services may benefit you. To schedule an appointment go to the “Contact” page.

Mentor
Ile-Ife Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) – Nigeria
The Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, that provides skills and mentoring for African graduate students and young scholars.

As a Faculty Member in 2018 I taught the following workshops:

Technology and Research: hands-on demonstration of web-based tools and strategies for their use
Thesis Development: how to develop researchable questions that offer traction and create new knowledge
In 2019 I developed the Keynote presentation for the Seminar on Ethnography

Mentoring since 2018 has included:

review and feedback on Mentees’ articles
advice on placing publications
feedback on CVs
providing letters of reference

Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) – http://www.ias-iin.com/scholars/laura-grillo/

Faculty Profile: https://www.ife-ias.com/faculty

Profile Article about the IAS Mentoring Initiative
“At the Mythological center of the World, a Unique Pedagogical Initiative Launches in Nigeria” co-authored with Samantha Lakin. The Huffington Post (August 3, 2017). https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/at-the-mythological-center-of-the-world-a-unique-pedagogical_us_5982df82e4b0396a95c874e4

Coaching
dissertation coaching

The support of an experienced and knowledgeable dissertation coach can help you move through your dissertation as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you decide to join the Dissertation Angels Coaching Program, you will receive one-on-support, working with Jessica, directly.

What’s included?
Weekly coaching calls (via phone or Skype)
Weekly feedback on your work (via email)
Unlimited access to me via email — I respond to all emails within 24 hours
Comprehensive assistance throughout every step of your dissertation process
Typical areas of assistance include

Helping you develop and refine your topic and research questions/hypotheses
Assistance with crafting your problem and purpose statements
Assistance with research
Feedback and advice on your methodology
Help with organization of each chapter
Preparation for proposal and final defense presentations
Feedback on your writing/recommendations for addressing questions or concerns from your committee or school
Help with staying organized, setting goals, and meeting deadlines
How much does the coaching program cost?
The program requires an initial 16-week commitment (the average length of a typical semester). The total cost of the initial 16-week program is $3200, billed in four monthly installments of $800. From there, you may continue with coaching on a month-to-month basis at $800 per month.

If you are not interested in receiving ongoing support and assistance, I am also available for individual consultations at $150/hour.

Who should join the Dissertation Angels Coaching Program?
The coaching program is ideal for students who need guidance, encouragement, and support during the dissertation journey. It’s also an effective system of accountability.

Who should NOT join the Dissertation Angels Coaching Program?
Let me be frank — this program is not for people who really have no interest in completing their dissertations. I don’t have time for excuses and laziness, and I’ll call you to the carpet on it. I’m invested in my coaching clients (just as I am with all of my clients), and your success is reflective of my own. So if you’re someone who likes to pull from the jar of excuses, this program is not for you.

Please note that I only take on a limited number of coaching clients to ensure I am able to dedicate plenty of time to everyone. Please contact me if you’d like to discuss the coaching program and my current availability.

Dissertation & Thesis Coaching
Thesis and dissertation students may experience issues during the writing process. From writer’s block to time and project management to uneven faculty mentorship, the thesis and dissertation process is often fraught with unknowns, uncertainty, and anxiety.

Dissertation and thesis coaching is designed to help students make sense of the process, talk through issues they may be experiencing, and develop strategies for completing their work. Some of the areas our dissertation/thesis coach can help with include:

Time and project management
Goal-setting and accountability
Communication with committee members
Sustaining motivation
Increasing productivity
Feedback on work
Coaching involves ongoing sessions of individualized support—our coach is trained to work with you to understand what you are experiencing, develop a plan for success, and help you move forward with your thesis or dissertation.

Coaching should not replace the guidance of your committee or faculty chair. However, it provides tailored support in a low-stakes environment that centers you, the student.

Resources for Dissertations & Theses
Roberts, C.M. (2010) The dissertation journey: A practical and comprehensive guide to planning, writing, and defending your dissertation (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

Single, P.B. (2009). Demystifying dissertation writing: A streamlined process from choice of topic to final text. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, LLC.

Sword, H. (2017). Air & light & time & space: How successful academics write. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Library Guide to Citation Manuals

UNM Digital Repository of Theses and Dissertations

The Thesis Whisperer | Just like the horse whisperer – but with more pages

Foundational Dissertation Writing Skills (Pre-Dissertation)
• Building a foundation on academic, argumentative, and authoritative writing

• Learning the basics of citation formatting (e.g., APA, Chicago, etc.)

• Devising a reading and writing accountability system

• Using a literature review matrix to write a literature review

• Providing dissertation editing (grammar/syntax, organization/style, content)

Research Design and Methodology
Crafting a research design plan

Understanding the connection between research questions, theoretical framework, and methodology

Consultation with methodologist on proper statistical and/or qualitative analysis techniques

Dissertation Defense Preparation

Preparing for the dissertation proposal defense presentation

Producing the final dissertation defense presentation

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Post-Dissertation Support
Strategizing on how to turn the dissertation into publications

Preparation for applying to and securing a higher education faculty position

Surviving and thriving through the publishing process

My Approach As Your Dissertation Coach
As your dissertation coach, I meet you where you are, taking into account your particular strengths, needs and challenges. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. The dissertation help I provide goes beyond the mechanics of Ph.D. completion because your academic project does not take place in a vacuum. You may be working professionally full or part-time, raising a family, volunteering and managing many other real world tasks.

Together, we take a holistic look at where you are now with your project, your academic goals, your lifestyle and your desired timeline. We craft an individualized, strategic plan for dissertation completion that fits into your schedule as seamlessly as possible.

We’ll decide together which approach is right for you: a fast track, intensive approach with a firm deadline or a slower-paced dissertation process that maximizes every learning opportunity at your disposal. As you progress, we will revisit our strategies as required to keep your project moving forward.

     My individualized support can help you make remarkable progress 

The reality is that many dissertation students do not receive the support they need through their programs. Following the completion of coursework, it’s all too common for graduate students to be left alone to work through what can become an amorphous project without concrete deadlines. Added to this is the variable approaches dissertation chairs or supervisors can take to working with students.

While many supervisors provide effective guidance and are responsive, others are hands-off and provide very little help. Dissertation Complete Coaching meets the needs of doctoral and masters students who are not getting the support they require to make progress and graduate. All one-one-one dissertation clients work directly with Dr. Cara Weston-Edell and receive targeted mentorship as part of their coaching package.

Dissertation Complete Coaching support includes:

Weekly individual coaching calls (via phone or Zoom)
A strategic accountability plan for dissertation completion
Unlimited access to Dr. Cara via email
Ongoing feedback on your working draft
Comprehensive assistance throughout each phase of your dissertation process
Depending on dissertation client needs, specific areas of coaching assistance can include:

Helping you develop and refine your topic and research questions/hypotheses
Providing assistance with determining your problem and purpose statements
Supporting the development and organization of the literature review
Giving feedback and advice on your methodology, findings and discussion chapters
Helping you work through the structure, development and organization of each chapter
Preparing you for proposal and final defense presentations
Providing ongoing feedback on your writing and helping you address suggestions and edits from your supervisor and committee members
Navigating supervisor and committee conflicts and challenges
Strategically helping you stay organized, set goals, and meet deadlines

​ What my coaching clients say:
“After recovering from an illness, I needed help jumpstarting my daily writing routine when I fell out of practice. I reached out to Dr. Weston and we worked together to develop a plan to improve my writing discipline. We discussed writing strategies during our sessions, but more importantly we worked on how to incorporate my scholarship into my everyday life.”

Max E., Concordia University

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You’ve come this far…
I’M HERE TO HELP YOU MAKE IT ACROSS THE PHD FINISH LINE. BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY SESSION TO DISCUSS YOUR ACADEMIC PROJECT AND FIND OUT HOW MY DISSERTATION COACHING HELP.

Dissertation Coaching
Did you know that between 40 and 50% of doctoral students never finish their degrees? Why is that?

The variety of reasons is staggering, from not having sufficient institutional support to having other areas of life conflict with the dissertation-writing process.

Why You Need a Dissertation Coach
What I’ve found in my years of experience working with doctoral students as a both a chair and a dissertation coach is that dissertation writing should not be a solitary process. Most of us need someone with whom we can talk things through; we need support; we need someone who can answer our questions. As a dissertation coach, this is just the beginning of what I can offer.

I’m here when you want to ask a question but feel you should already know the answer. When the task seems overwhelming, I can help you break down the tasks into manageable segments. And if you’re in need of moral support or a listening ear, I’m here to listen and cheer you on.

I have over thirty years of experience in academia. Having chaired over eighty dissertation committees, I know the ins and outs of the dissertation process. I know how hard writing a dissertation can be (I wrote one myself) and am familiar with the mistakes that are easy to make along the way (I made some of them myself).

Most of all, my greatest passion is supporting students in achieving their goals. I can help you finish your dissertation and achieve the dreams you had when you first started this journey.

Dissertation Coaching Package
Here are a few of the things I can help you with:

Choosing a topic strategically
Saving time in your research and writing process
Developing your methodology and data collection strategy
Developing your problem statement and purpose statement
Creating an acceptance-ready proposal (Chapters 1-3)
Addressing the tricky issue of alignment
Data collection
Analysis and reporting (Chapters 4 & 5)
Preparing for your defense
Turning your finished dissertation into journal articles or a book
And much more…
This is only some of what I can offer. The coaching process is tailored to your needs, so we’ll find the areas in which you need the most support and go from there.

What’s Included in the Dissertation Coaching Package:
Four hours of services per month, including any combination of the following:

Four one-hour coaching calls per month
Email support
Review of documents throughout the month
Pricing
$400 per month

Book a Free 30-Minute Consultation