Students

Quotes

I like the fact that we are constantly getting reminders to complete applications and are given so many resource to help us in our application process.

I actually enjoyed being called Dr. It gave me an idea as to what it could possibly feel like one day. I was very much just interested in getting my question answered of what is graduate school and is it for me prior to participating in A Step to the Doctorate Institute, and in return I got so much more information and I am very appreciative. I also enjoyed the Q and A sessions and was able to get access to many resources that I wouldn't have had if I didn't join the program.

I enjoyed the way that we had time to interact with Dr. Walter Lee and Dr. Rafael Patrick due to the way that they interacted with us and held a conversation. I felt like the times that we heard from grad students or people who have went through grad school recently.

The effort and work and time they put in to invest in us gaining more knowledge towards graduate school and paying for it while equipping us with the knowledge from current students.

Hearing individual student experiences from students going through Graduate programs right now, especially during COVID times.

I enjoyed the genuine and authentic conversation and feedback from Dr. Lee and Dr. Patrick. Their insight gave me a new perspective on taking on graduate school for continued studies. Representation and honesty plays an important role in making the next decision of enhancing your career.

I liked the raw insight on how students should consider deciding their next step. I liked the insight from Black faculty and Black Grad students about their journey and how they decided. Knowing that our next step is not our last step is super helpful.

Cohort 2024

Abdallah Elhilo, Virginia Tech
Abhay Raghavan, Virginia Tech
Abrianna Valentin Ferrer, Virginia Tech
Adrian Kwaramba, Chinhoyi University of Technology
Aliyah Smith, Virginia State University
Amanda Audette, Virginia Tech
April Sayers, Virginia Tech
Chaeson Sears II, California State University, Fresno
Cherisse Bradley, Virginia Tech
David Warren Jr., Elizabeth City State University
Derek Johnson, Jr., Virginia Tech
Desmond Komla, Virginia State University
Ebony Shields, Virginia Tech
Ella Tomko, Virginia Tech
Giovanni Morris, Virginia Tech
Hiral Makwana, Ganpat University, India
Jalen Neal, Virginia Tech
Jessica Coffield, Virginia Tech
Jisu Lee, Virginia Tech
Jose Arellano Miramontes, Virginia Tech
Joshua Douglas, Virginia Tech
Justin Dean, Virginia Tech
London Paige, Washington and Lee University
Nathanyal Carter, Virginia Tech
Neil Baptiste, Virginia Tech
Nicole Paz-Jimenez, Virginia Tech
Omar Escudero Mayorca, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
Rashelle Amao, Virginia Tech
Roemio Wilkins, Virginia Tech
Romario Williams, Virginia Tech
Roy Gichuru, Virginia Tech
Samuel Akinyemi, Virginia Tech
Samuel Obiorah, Morgan State University
Skye Thurston, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Union University
Tampiwa Mahari, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe
Teresa Myrthil, Carnegie Mellon University
Tony Munnings, Benedict College
Tyler Williamson, Lamar University
Wilnijah Chapman, Virginia State University

Cohort 2023
Alexa Smith, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Alexandria Johnson, Virginia Tech
Araceli Cabrera-Ortuno, Virginia Tech
Astrid Dzotcha Kengne, Morgan State University
Bianca Campos, Virginia Tech
Brooke Perkins, Virginia Tech
Christopher Payne, Virginia State University
Colin O'Leary, Virginia Tech
David Vaquerano Jovel, Morgan State University
Devin Ball-Holt, Virginia Tech
Esther Boachie, Virginia Tech
Fadziso Mango, Chinhoyi University of Technology
Gabriel Escalante, Virginia Tech
Girum Yaye, University of California, Riverside
Haisam Saied, Virginia Tech
Hugh Young, Virginia Tech
Hunter Saylor, Morgan State University
Ian Rivera, The Pennsylvania State University
Jabril Clark, Morgan State University
Jeremiah Essandoh, Virginia Tech
Juan Castrellon, Virginia Tech
Justin Terry, Virginia State University
Kailyn Haye, Virginia Tech
Khadijat Oyediran, Virginia Tech
Lawrence Prattis, Virginia Tech
Maha Negash, Virginia Tech
Miracle Etim-Andy, Catawba College
Morgan Atkinson, Virginia Tech
Neil Baptiste, Virginia Tech
Ngonidzashe Gore, University of Zimbabwe
Nicolas Saavedra, Universidad de Ibagué
Oghenemine Regha, Louisiana Tech University
Samuel Obiorah, Morgan State University
Saul Machingauta, GIBS Business School (Gordon Institute of Business Science)
Titus Cameron, Virginia Tech
Tony Lee, Virginia Tech
Yensi Moreno, Universidad del Tolima

Cohort 2022
Rythm Agarwal, Virginia Tech
Sami Al Jadir, Virginia Tech
Oluwaseunfunmi Ashiru, Virginia Tech
Sherlocks Banks, II, Virginia Tech
MaKhaila Bentil, Virginia State University
Terelle Cadd, Virginia Tech
Dannie DeSilva, Virginia Tech
Kailyn Haye, Virginia State University
John Hunter, Virginia Tech
Pablo Isaza, Virginia Tech
Joshua Johnson, Virginia State University
Jubel Kurian, Virginia Tech
Khadeejat Lawal, Virginia Tech
Thomas Nelson, Virginia State University
Daniel Owusu, Virginia Tech
Paul Tovar, Virginia Tech
Tymon Wansel, Virginia Tech
Saron Worku, Virginia Tech

Cohort 2021
Jonathan Moore, Virginia Tech
Artre Turner, Virginia Tech
Kristian Meland, Virginia Tech
Juan Venegas, Virginia Tech
Rwaka Furaha, Virginia Tech
Oghenemaro Oruerio, Virginia Tech
Suinda Ossenkopp, Virginia Tech
Marta Perez, Virginia Tech
Jonathan Reynosa, Virginia Tech
Eric Abradu-Otoo, Virginia Tech
Shandler Mason, North Carolina A&T State University

Cohort 2020
Keneil Gordon, Virginia Tech
Aaron Brown, Virginia Tech
Juel Hayes, Virginia Tech
Jada Palmer, Virginia Tech
Jimmy Kaindu, Virginia Tech
Raymond Daniels, Virginia Tech
Jesika McDaniel, Virginia Tech
Esther Sewordor, Virginia Tech
Daniel Alex, Virginia Tech
Jacolby Washington, Virginia Tech