Dissertation coaching, and academic coaching more generally, is a process in which an author hires a coach to help him or her achieve writing goals that are for some reason stymied. Most of the time, those goals are related to writing process, accountability (or lack thereof), or substantive challenges that manifest themselves in writing (like most organizational problems). For Faculty Services, click here. For Grad Student Services, keep reading.
BOOT CAMP IS BACK! Jan 12, Feb 9, & Mar 10. Register here. Just $25 for 6 hours of supported work in a fun and friendly environment!
Many people can benefit from working, even for a short while, with a dissertation or academic coach. Maybe you’re struggling to make a chapter’s organization work, or perhaps your lit review won’t come together or perhaps you have no idea how to present your results. Maybe you’re working remotely from your program without easy access to peer or faculty support. Maybe you know what you want to say but writing issues impede communication with your reader. Maybe your writing’s fine, but the lack of accountability has left you making only a trickle of progress when your new job’s start date demands a flood. If you’re struggling with any part of your dissertation, then coaching might be the solution for you.
Most of my work with clients is centered around management strategies: time management, project management, writing management, self-management, and the like. I am not a committee member; I will talk substance with you only to the extent that you request it. That said, I've got an eclectic background and I'm widely read, so I often have interesting insights. But my goal is NOT to be a committee member - it's to help provide whatever guidance or skills you may be looking for.
In one year, I've had four successful defenses. Others are on track to defend this term. Previous student clients have come from the schools listed in the word cloud to the right.
To see what previous clients had to say about working with me, try reading some of the Testimonials.
If you're interested in coaching, please email meand tell me a little about why you're looking for coaching. We'll set up a (free) initial consult where we can discuss your situation in more depth and determine whether we're a good match to work together and under what terms. Keep reading below the signup block for a FAQ, including prices.
Academic coaching is primarily about providing you with the support that you need to get your dissertation or other writing project done. That might be goal-setting and accountability for some people; it might be feedback and writing support for others; it might be something totally different or a blend of both for others. Together we’ll work to identify the barriers you have to getting your project done, and we’ll craft a plan for working in stages to get past them. We’ll touch base regularly via videoconference to take stock of progress and update the plan. I’ll read chapters or sections that you send me and offer feedback to see if we’re actually solving the problem. Academic coaching does the same thing, but for a wider variety of kinds of things – books and articles and grant applications – and for faculty as well as graduate students.
Once we’ve agreed to work together – and that’s a mutual decision – we’ll sit down for an e-meeting where we discuss your progress, writing strategies, and goals. We’ll then outline a work plan for the semester to help you reach your goals and set up a schedule of regular progress check meetings. Your semester coaching fee gets you a weekly hourlong meeting where we touch base with your goals, discuss your progress, review any documents you’ve sent me, and make a plan for until the next meeting. For dissertation coaching, it also includes my providing detailed feedback on one document (usually a chapter, market documents, grant application, or a similar project) each month.
I offer two main packages of graduate student services: two full-term packages and a short package. The year has three four-month terms – fall (Sept-Dec), winter/spring (Jan-Apr), and summer (May-Aug).
Problem Solver Package: $75
Two focused one-hour consultations, usually a couple weeks apart, preceded by a document review. Ideal for those struggling with a manuscript that’s been rejected or got conflicting revision recommendations, and those working on shorter projects like grant applications. It can be helpful for breaking through a logjam on a prospectus. It’s also a good way to try out coaching before committing to a full semester; the cost of this package can be applied to any full semester package should you decide to continue. Problem Solver packages can happen at any time in the year or term.
NEW: Problem Solver Job Market Package: $125
One pre-review meeting; review of job market packet including cover letter, CV, teaching & research statements with written feedback; review of job market paper or other writing sample with written feedback; post-feedback consultation. Add a virtual practice job talk with feedback for an additional $50.
Dissertation Coaching: $375
Four months of weekly meetings, including one document review with comments per month. Access to group dissertation support activities, including Bootcamps. Mid-term starts are possible, space permitting.
It ensures that you give them a better product because you've had more feedback on writing, structure, and organization, and it helps you get things to them on an agreed timeline. They still have the final call over what to include, how to do the analysis, etc. I will provide suggestions, as any good reviewer would, where I see opportunities to improve the analysis or research design, but the final decision is up to you and your committee.
I have a PhD in political science from the University of Michigan and extensive training and experience in giving feedback on academic writing. Because of my background, I prefer to confine my clientele to political science, international relations, public policy or closely related social sciences. Humanities clients will be considered with an approved prospectus on a case-by-case basis, but 'fit' between your needs and what I can provide is key. I don't want to shortchange you or give you second-class service.
Please note: I am not a copyediting service. If your primary challenge is that you are a non-native speaker of English who needs English-language editing help, please seek out an individual who specializes in that; I am happy to provide a referral. If you have other primary challenges and also need a small amount of English language help, then we may be a match; feel free to email me and we’ll see if it works.
