On Being ABD & Choosing an Advisor

Last updated on: April 23, 2012 at 11:15 am by Andre E. Johnson

On Being ABD & Choosing an Advisor 2012-04-23T11:15:00-05:00 Andre E. Johnson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

by Robyn Henderson-Espinoza
Rhetoric Race and Religion Contributor
from: iRobyn|iWitness Culture|iWrite

I’ve resisted the impulse to blog about my recent achievement (becoming ABD). I’m sort of blogging about it now, but am rather wanting to talk about one of my experiences today that was a “first.” I was introduced to as Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, Ph.D. Candidate for the first time today. It was a great feeling, and I enjoyed being on the other side of “student.” While I am in the beginning stages of writing the dissertation, it feels good to be at this moment and time: ABD. Becoming ABD begins and ends w/ the choosing of an advisor, and perhaps that is where I want to begin reflecting.
When I began searching for places to do my Ph.D., I either wanted to study with a Queer person, or a person of color. For me, I wanted a Latin@ of some sort. I found Dr. Miguel De La Torre to be that person, and while he is straight and a bit macho, he has been more than an advisor to and for me. He has served as a sounding board, a mentor, and encourager. One of the things that he pushes his students on is being involved in the community of ethicists, and finding one’s own voice. And so, while Miguel serves as my dissertation chair and primary advisor, I have a group of scholars holding me close in heart and holding me accountable to do the good work I am capable of doing. Some of those folks I’ve mentioned on this blog before, and others remain cited, but only in my heart. Becoming ABD is a feat, for sure, but it is in the choosing of an advisor and one’s community that truly sustains one’s ability to do good work.
And, to do the good work that I want to do means that I continue to engage in scholarly discourse and explore the realm of teaching. While the teaching pieces still have me a bit anxiety ridden, the move to continue to engage in scholarly discourse does not. Like today, for example, when I was a guest in the Iliff Social Media Praxis Class. It was nice to be apart of the conversation, and also contribute to the imagination of bodies and how we understand bodies.
Life continues to be good to me. I sometimes wonder if there’s someone praying?! Thanks, Miguel, for taking me on as your student and for encouraging me to explore the field of Ethics. And, I continue to be grateful to Melanie Harris, Kate Ott, Nikki Young, Kelby Harrison, Mark George, Margaret Robinson, Nadia Bolz-Weber, and so many others (like that *one* girl) who help me get to where I need to go when it comes to my thinking.
Time to write the dissertation!

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 23, 2012

Shaima Alawadi: Beyond ‘Hoodies and Hijabs’

Next Post

April 24, 2012 13th Biennial Public Address Conference

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Amy Steele Andre E. Johnson Book Reviews/Series Brian Foulks Call for Chapters Carol Howard Merritt Classes Conferences Contributors Crystal St.Marie Lewis Daniel White Hodge Earle Fisher Eulogy Fredrick Robinson Guest Contributions Henry McNeal Turner Institutes Interviews Joseph Boston Katherine Whitfield Kimberly Peeler-Ringer Lectures/Roundtables Natalie Bullock Brown R3 Book Series R3 Contributor Rashad Grove Readers Reflections Symposiums Teaching Traci Ellis Travis Harris Uncategorized Video

Select a Month June 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 October 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz