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About

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TRACY COOK, JD, PHD
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PhD - North Carolina State University

JD – State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Law

MA – State University of New York at Buffalo

BS – Indiana University of Pennsylvania

My academic and career journey has never been a straight line. Like you, I have spent much of my life trying to find my place in the world. I have spent my academic career learning how to use my knowledge to help others and put those into practice in my professional career. As an attorney, professor, department chair, and academic dean, I have dedicated my career to guiding individuals on their journey to greatness.

I understand adult learners, particularly from my doctoral studies and the many students I have taught and guided over the years but in my experience as an adult learner. Therefore, I decided to pursue a Ph.D. in my 40’s while working full-time. After eight years, I finished my Ph.D. at the age of 52. I appreciate the journey because I have traveled the journey.

My interest in coaching graduate students stemmed from my experience writing my dissertation. I suffered from writer’s block, which was so paralyzing that I could not write a single sentence. Nothing my chair, classmates, or friend could bust me out of the block. A chance post from a dissertation support coach sparked my interest, and I signed up for her services.

My dissertation coach helped me develop strategies to help me define my “why” in pursuing my Ph.D. She helped me with strategies to help me focus and silence the little terrorist in my head. As a result, I could bust through my writer’s block and finish my dissertation. I transferred what I learned along with my experience advising students to volunteer as a mentor/coach in my doctoral program. Providing doctoral students with the tools, guidance, and support to make it to the finish line became the spark that led me to start Graduate Step-By-Step.

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