Student Success Blog

2026 Outstanding Mid-Level Professional Award

Demarcus Merritt, Sr. is a student in our PhD in Education Program. Demarcus recently received the 2026 Outstanding Mid-Level Professional Award from the Association of College and University Housing Officers. Keep reading to learn more about his experience and advice he has for prospective and current students.

Addressing the push to “get published!”

The push to “get published” at the doctoral level is ever-present.

Students are strongly encouraged to get their name out there at least once during their PhD coursework but going about this can feel intimidating. The competition to get published in a big-name journal can feel discouraging, especially when there is a fee for submitting manuscripts for review. It can feel overwhelming to have to consider the fact that your manuscript will be peer-reviewed by others in your field, some of whom you may have met (or will meet) at conferences, and some who you may very well have referenced in your work before. Keep reading to discover how I pushed through these feelings of intimidation and embarked on my own journey of getting published for the first time. 

Demystifying the PhD process: Final dissertation

Demystifying the PhD process: Dissertation proposal

Demystifying the PhD process: Portfolio III