I am scheduled to finish my Doctorate in Education in May 2026. Unfortunately, due to federal rollbacks under the Trump administration, particularly the attacks on education and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the Diversifying Faculty in Illinois Fellowship, which I have received since 2023 and was counting on to fund my doctorate, is currently entangled in a lawsuit that has frozen disbursements and left many students, including myself, in financial limbo.

With that being said, I am asking for help in reaching my $5,000 goal for the semester and $10,000 for the year. I have a 3.8 overall GPA and plan to use my doctorate degree in service to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and inner-city youth mentorship.