Dr. Lauren Mims on Combining Research, Teaching, & Policy to Change How We Think About the Magic of Black Girlhood
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As a graduate student, it’s easy to become fixated on a rigid set of expectations, especially when it concerns what one’s academic trajectory should look like. In today’s episode, we speak with Dr. Lauren Mims who has learned to accept that the academic path is often unpredictable, even in the face of the most dedicated planning. During her doctoral degree, she seized an unexpected opportunity, taking time off to work in the White House. During that time she served as the Assistant Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans for the Obama administration. Dr. Mims is currently an Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at Ball State University in Indiana and received her doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Virginia. Her research promotes the well-being and development of Black students, with a particular focus on Black girls and girlhood. In our discussion, we talked with Dr. Mims about her dissertation and how she came to choose her focus. She shares how surprised she was to find herself at a University in the Midwest and explains that she had based her decision on the fact that they actively celebrated Black scholars and their work, rather than simply tolerating them. We delve into her most recent endeavors which focus on Black families. Dr. Mims shares her exciting collaboration with Because Of Them We Can: the creation of a special box, the contents of which facilitate high-quality learning experiences for Black parents and their children. Tune in today for a fascinating and life-affirming discussion with Dr. Mims on all this and much more! We are sure you will find the conversation every bit as inspiring and thought-provoking as we did!
Connect with Dr. Lauren Mims on LaurenMims.com, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Mentioned in the show:
- Yara Shahidi’s Adidas Sneakers
- Beyonce’s Adidas Sneakers
- Woke Kindergarten
- Because Of Them We Can Box
- Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria?
- White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans
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