We did it!

8 Latina PhDs @USC across departments will be graduating this Spring 2023.

Approximately 50% of PhD students will drop out of their program, this number is greater for womxn and BIPOC folx 1,2. Despite the explicit and implicit barriers, we did it!

However, up until the very end, the challenges persist. As graduate students, we receive stipends that are often under what is considered living wages in California3.

We are asking for your financial support to celebrate our accomplishments. The cost for each of our graduation regalia, (cap and gown) that is required for us to be a part of our graduation ceremony is about $1,000. In addition, we must pay a fee of $115 to the USC Graduate School to submit our dissertation for publication by the university. Please consider donating any amount you can. We would greatly appreciate it! Gracias.

1. Young SN, Vanwye WR, Schafer MA, Robertson TA, Poore AV. Factors Affecting PhD Student Success. Int J Exerc Sci. 2019;12(1):34-45.

2. Ramos SL, Torres-Fernandez I. Conociendo los Caminos: Testimonios of Latina doctoral students. Peace Confl J Peace Psychol. 2020;26:379-389. doi:10.1037/pac0000450

3. Living Wage Calculator - Living Wage Calculation for California. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/06