“The New School allows students to proverbially choose their own adventure.”
Sophia Williams, a doctoral student, has been able to complete doctoral research thanks to her fellowship support.
Sophia Williams is pursuing her third year of doctoral studies in Psychology at The New School for Social Research. Her work in research and mentorship has been made possible through the support of the Statue Foundation.
I am a third year doctoral student, and am incredibly proud to be the recipient of fellowship support. I’m originally from California, and was raised by my mother in Oakland. In 2011, my dream of relocating to New York City became a reality when I was accepted to The New School’s master’s program in Psychology, and again when I was accepted into the Clinical Psychology doctoral program. I feel fortunate to have been given these opportunities to pursue my dreams. I recognize that none of these dreams would be feasible without the generosity of donors.
I am a first-generation college student and thus, the first in my family to pursue doctoral training. This journey is a learning experience for us all! However, what makes this journey a bit smoother is the financial peace of mind offered by my fellowship. I feel fortunate to have received my fellowship support. As a result, I have embraced the associated programming responsibilities not only with gratitude but also as an opportunity to pay this generosity forward through service.
As a Statue Foundation Fellow, my mission has been to mentor students. In particular, I have been working with students of color, in general, and with students of African descent, particularly to support the successful completion of their undergraduate degrees. This year, I have mentored six students on a range of topics that can best be aggregated into two main buckets — developing research projects and identifying a research lab, and emotional support for students as they navigate some of the challenges common for students of color at predominately white institutions. Although I am working on a one-to-one basis with students, this work develops into the creation of community pointing to the power of self-reflexivity to open hearts which facilitates interpersonal connection and community building.
The New School allows students to proverbially choose their own adventure. If there is a class, a seminar, or an event that a New School student is interested in creating, The New School makes space and an audience shows up. I am proud of the Black Psychology course that I created and teach. The curriculum for this course is a labor of love, but teaching it is so fulfilling.
This work is just the beginning. My fellowship continues to position me to engage in community development. I envision a lifelong career dedicated to supporting the health and wellness of Black people and Black communities. Thank you for your generosity and thank you for helping make my dreams a reality.
Sophia Williams
