Celebrate Dr. Rashad Timmons as He Begins A New Chapter!

Campaign Summary

Peace loved ones,

I'm happy to share that I'll be graduating next week (May 17th) with my Ph.D. in African American Studies!

After seven long years of sacrifice, prayer, and dedication, I'm officially Dr. Rashad Arman Timmons!

I'm thankful for my expansive village of family, friends, mentors and teachers, chosen family, students, healers, and prayer warriors who've loved me through the highest highs and the lowest lows of this journey. I wouldn't have achieved this without y'all, and I'm forever indebted. I'm also happy to share that, starting in July, I'll be continuing my research and writing as a University of California Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow! I'll be working between the Bay Area and Santa Barbara doing research and writing on race, urban transportation, and police violence.

As I celebrate this huge milestone and transition into a new chapter, I welcome and am grateful for any blessing of monetary support folks can and feel free to offer. This is especially helpful as I host family for this celebration, switch between jobs, and plan for an upcoming move in June. Anything is beautiful and well-received.

Thank you for your continued support and goodness to me! I love you all!

All my love,

Dr. Rashad Arman Timmons ( <---- this is wild to me!)

Extended Campaign Narrative

"I will write a beautiful and rigorous dissertation this year. I will file it on May 10, 2024 (or earlier) and feel good about what I accomplished."

I wrote these words on September 7, 2023 when I felt scared and uncertain about the future. At that time, I didn't know how difficult, heartbreaking, yet beautiful the next eight months would be. I didn't know that I'd be entering my thirties with more questions than answers about life or that, months later, I'd be trying to figure out how to live in this brutal world without some of my favorite people. I didn't know any of those things. All I knew on that Thursday in September was that I felt anxious, especially about my work. I wrote these words, then, as a promise to myself.

Today is May 10th, 2024. I'm raw and I'm tired. I know difficulty and heartbreak and beauty in ways that I didn't eight months ago. I still have more questions than answers, and I'm still trying to figure out how to live in this brutal world without some of my favorite people. I feel and know all these things deeply. I hold space for these feelings and acknowledge their presence. But on this Friday in May, for the first time in a long time, I don't feel anxious, especially about my work.

I kept the promise I made. I've spent the past eight months writing a beautiful and rigorous dissertation. I filed it today and fulfilled all the requirements to earn my Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in African American Studies. I feel so good about what I accomplished. I can now call myself Dr. Rashad Arman Timmons!

Thank you to the many folks who called to check on me, sent messages of encouragement, read my work, listened to my ideas with care, and made with laugh when I needed it most. I'm reminded every day that nothing beautiful is ever achieved alone. I'm thankful for my expansive village of family, friends, mentors and teachers, chosen family, students, healers, and prayer warriors who've loved me through the highest highs and the lowest lows of this journey. I wouldn't have achieved this without y'all, and I'm forever indebted.

I'm also happy to share that, starting in July, I'll be continuing my research and writing as a University of California Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow! I'll be working between the Bay Area and Santa Barbara doing research and writing on race, urban transportation, and police violence.

As I celebrate this huge milestone and transition into a new chapter, I welcome and am grateful for any blessing of monetary support folks can and feel free to offer. This is especially helpful as I host family for this celebration, switch between jobs, and plan for an upcoming move in June. Anything is beautiful and received with so much gratitude. I feel so lucky to have been anchored in a deep and supportive community throughout this journey, and I can't wait to celebrate with you! Thank you for your continued support and goodness to me! I love you all!

All my love,

Dr. Rashad Arman Timmons ( <---- this is so wild to me!)