Capitalism Vs. Commerce In Your Consulting Business
Office Hours with Dr. Lacy
Dissertation Information Qual Scholars Community: 10 Pages In 2 Days Writing Retreat: The Finish Your Dissertation Institute: Qual Scholars Website: Qual Scholars’ Instagram: Book An Astrology Reading:
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How You Will Fail Your Dissertation Defense And How To Avoid It
Office Hours with Dr. Lacy
In this conversation, Dr. Lacy discusses the challenges faced by doctoral students, particularly focusing on the feelings of imposter syndrome and self-doubt. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's achievements and the mental barriers that prevent individuals from acknowledging their capabilities. Lacy encourages listeners to shift their mindset from fear of failure to celebrating their successes throughout their academic journey. Takeaways The core of why it's so hard and overwhelming is you have such deep-seated fear and disbelief. You keep mentally rehearsing all of the reasons...
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Why You Won't Write Your Dissertation Over Break
Office Hours with Dr. Lacy
In this conversation, Dr. Lacy discusses the challenges of imposter syndrome faced by academic writers, particularly those working on dissertations. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's own knowledge and capabilities, and how fear can hinder progress. Lacy advocates for making a firm decision to produce work as a way to combat these fears and encourages writers to develop effective strategies for their writing process. Takeaways You know more than enough to write a full draft. Imposter syndrome is rooted in fear and self-doubt. Reading and taking notes won't eliminate imposter...
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You Have No Plan for What’s Next After The Dissertation
Office Hours with Dr. Lacy
In this conversation, Dr. Lacy discusses the journey of transitioning from a doctoral student to a successful consultant. She emphasizes the importance of believing in one's own value, the potential of leveraging academic knowledge for business, and the necessity of visibility in marketing oneself. Lacy shares her personal experiences and insights on overcoming self-doubt, balancing academia with entrepreneurship, and building a sustainable consulting business. Takeaways You can pursue both academia and entrepreneurship. Many fear putting themselves out there due to uncertainty. Your...
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I Was At My Breaking Point With The Dissertation - Dr. Jessica Morganfield
Office Hours with Dr. Lacy
In this conversation, Dr. Jessica Morganfield shares her journey through the dissertation process, highlighting the importance of support systems, the emotional toll of research, and the value of academic coaching. She discusses her experiences with advisors, the challenges of navigating a PhD program, and the significance of community in overcoming obstacles. The conversation culminates in reflections on her dissertation defense and advice for future doctoral candidates. Dissertation Information Qual Scholars Community: 10 Pages In 2 Days Writing Retreat: The Finish Your Dissertation...
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The Lies We Tell Ourselves About The Dissertation Process
Office Hours with Dr. Lacy
In this conversation, Dr. Lacy discusses the challenges faced by doctoral students in completing their dissertations. She emphasizes the importance of structure, support, and accountability rather than waiting for the 'right time' to finish. Dr. Lacy addresses common misconceptions about needing help, the role of advisors versus dissertation coaches, and introduces her program, the Finish Your Dissertation Institute, which provides comprehensive support to help students graduate successfully. Dissertation Information Qual Scholars Community: 10 Pages In 2 Days Writing Retreat: The Finish...
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The Key To Writing Your Dissertation Faster
Office Hours with Dr. Lacy
Dissertation Information Qual Scholars Community: 10 Pages In 2 Days Writing Retreat: The Finish Your Dissertation Institute: Qual Scholars Website: Qual Scholars’ Instagram: Book An Astrology Reading:
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5 Reasons Why You Haven't Written Your Literature Review
Office Hours with Dr. Lacy
Dissertation Information Literature Review Intensive: Qual Scholars Community: 10 Pages In 2 Days Writing Retreat: The Finish Your Dissertation Institute: Qual Scholars Website: Qual Scholars’ Instagram:
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3 Reasons Why You Will Fail Your Comprehensive Exams
Office Hours with Dr. Lacy
Dissertation Information Qual Scholars Community: 10 Pages In 2 Days Writing Retreat: The Finish Your Dissertation Institute: Qual Scholars Website: Qual Scholars’ Instagram: Book An Astrology Reading:
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My Life After Finishing The Dissertation - Post Doc Diaries
Office Hours with Dr. Lacy
In this episode, Dr. Lacy introduces a new series focused on the postdoctoral experience, sharing her personal journey after completing her dissertation. She discusses the emotional challenges faced after graduation, the importance of preparing for life beyond academia, and the necessity of having a clear vision and reward to navigate this transition. Dr. Lacy emphasizes the significance of believing in one's potential and the power of community support in achieving personal and professional goals. Qual Scholars Community: 10 Pages In 2 Days Writing Retreat: The Finish Your...
info_outlineAshley Thomas didn’t wait for permission to take her next step—she made the decision to invest in herself. In this episode, she shares how she went from high school chemistry teacher to doctoral candidate, all while balancing work, life, and the emotional weight of the dissertation process. We talk about what it really means to bet on your future, why group coaching changed everything, and how she learned to ask for help without shame. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s worth it to invest in support—Ashley’s story will show you what’s possible when you do.
Dissertation Information
- Qual Scholars Community: https://qual-scholars.circle.so/
- 10 Pages In 2 Days Writing Retreat: https://qualscholars.com/10pages/
- The Finish Your Dissertation Institute: https://qualscholars.com/theinstitute/
- Qual Scholars Website: https://qualscholars.com/
- Qual Scholars’ Instagram: https://instagram.com/qual_scholars/
Ashley Thomas (She, her, hers)
I am Ashley Thomas, a native of Atlanta, Georgia. I have been a teacher for 19 years in the DeKalb County School District, with nine years in the middle school setting, teaching all sciences and ten years at the high school level, teaching general and accelerated chemistry, AP chemistry, and forensic science. I earned my B.S. in chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana, master’s from Keller Graduate School in information systems, and an M.Ed. and Ed.S. in instructional technology from Kennesaw State University. I am a firm believer in leveraging my technology expertise to support my fellow peers while developing my students’ skills. I have facilitated various professional development initiatives over the past decade. I have also presented at multiple levels, including both instructional technology and educational research conferences, at the local, state, national, and international levels.
During my tenure in my local school district, I was named Star Teacher in 2019, Stephenson High School’s Teacher of the Year 2023- 2024, and the DeKalb County School District’s High School Teacher of the Year 2023-2024. I have been granted the Explore Learning Leadership Award for Implementation in 2015 and 2016. I also earned the KSU’s Bagwell Scholar Award in Spring 2022 while earning my specialist degree. I was also honored in the Georgia Senate with a Resolution for Stephenson’s Teacher of the Year in 2024. I am currently a doctoral candidate at Kennesaw State University, maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout my studies.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, listening to an eclectic array of music, spending time with my family and friends, and traveling whenever possible.
I was affected by Hurricane Katrina and had to take my last semester classes at Spelman College and Georgia State University. I must give credit where it’s due. I successfully completed my BS while navigating that bump in the road, and I also pursued a doctoral degree while experiencing the loss of my sister and, subsequently, my father within 18 months.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage
02:50 Meet Ashley Thomas: A Journey in Education
05:42 The Decision to Join the Program
10:28 The Value of Community and Support
15:04 Navigating Personal Challenges
19:01 Experiencing the Writing Retreat
24:02 Investing in Your Future
24:31 Investing in Yourself
25:22 The Power of Community and Support
27:28 Planning for Success
30:31 The Importance of Outcome-Driven Goals
32:03 The Value of Group Coaching
35:19 Embracing Support and Vulnerability
39:08 Commitment to the Process
42:55 Taking the Leap: Just Do It