Write Your Dissertation, Sis
Join the Next Cohort
From ABD to Defended. From Student to Scholar. From Dissertation to Legacy.
Welcome, Sis!
I’m Dr. Jamelia Harris—educator, researcher, advocate, and founder of Write Your Dissertation, SIS.
Five years ago, I defended my dissertation—a project grounded in love for the Black girls in my community navigating some of the highest rates of school pushout in California. I started my Ph.D. at 22 and finished at 26, becoming the youngest in my UCLA cohort and one of the first to complete. Along the way, I earned the AAUW Dissertation Fellowship and was honored as a semifinalist for AERA’s Dissertation of the Year Award.
But none of it came easy.
I had to navigate imposter syndrome, isolation, and gendered racism—while advocating for Black women in institutions that were never built for us.
That’s why I launched Write Your Dissertation, SIS: no more fighting to be seen, only building spaces where we already belong.
This isn’t just a coaching program—it’s a movement. And I’m honored you’re here.
Who Our Program Is For…
In a world that constantly demands more while offering less support, many Black women scholars find themselves:
Carrying the weight of isolation as they write without structured accountability or community.
Overextended and exhausted, balancing research, teaching, work, and caregiving with little space for themselves.
Silenced or second-guessed, navigating programs where their brilliance is overlooked, underfunded, or undermined.
Burned out by perfectionism, revising chapters endlessly without clarity on how to move forward.
Sis, you are not the problem. The conditions are.
This space was built to hold you differently.
What Becomes Possible
Imagine a space where you can:
Build momentum through weekly co-writing and structured accountability.
Gain clarity and confidence with expert coaching, templates, and personalized feedback.
Be affirmed and supported in community with other Black women scholars who get it.
Move from survival to strategy, turning your dissertation into the foundation of your scholarly legacy.
Your Six-Month Journey
This program is more than coaching—it’s an intentionally designed Black feminist curriculum that carries you, step by step, from ABD to defended and into your scholarly legacy.
Month 1 – Roadmap to Legacy
Build your dissertation roadmap and set intentional goals to guide your journey.
Month 2 – Honoring Your Scholarly Voice
Strengthen your voice and identity as a scholar while revising with clarity.
Month 3 – Power in Partnership
Reclaim your agency in committee engagement and navigate feedback with confidence.
Month 4 – Ready to Defend
Polish your dissertation and prepare to present your work with pride.
Month 5 – Thriving Beyond Burnout
Sustain your peace, protect your energy, and envision life beyond the dissertation.
Month 6 – Legacy in Bloom
Celebrate your defense and step boldly into your scholarly legacy.
What You’ll Get Inside
Structured Accountability: Bi-weekly coaching calls to keep you on track.
Weekly Co-Writing Sessions: Sacred space to write in solidarity and stay consistent.
Actionable Tools & Strategies: The Chapter Clarity Series, templates, and proven frameworks.
Supportive Sisterhood: Community inside the Inner Sister Circle to share wins and challenges.
Guided Coaching & Expertise: High-level guidance tailored to your unique needs.
Developmental Feedback (Premium): In-depth review of your chapters to strengthen clarity and analysis.
Weekly Office Hours + Messaging Access: Ask questions and get unstuck in real time.
Bonus Access: Storytelling in the Dissertation Defense workshop, Black Women’s Job Market Retreat, and seasonal intensives.
Enrollment is intentionally limited to ensure an intimate, high-touch experience.
Trusted by Scholars Nationwide
We’ve supported 200+ Black women scholars across 60+ universities—from HBCUs to R1s to the Ivy League.
Hear From Our Scholars
“Write Your Dissertation, Sis is an important protective factor for Black women’s persistence and resilience toward completing the dissertation.”
- Dr. Destiny Williams-Dobosz, WYDS Alum
In Her Words: Scholar Testimonials
FAQs
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This program is for Black women scholars in the final stages of their dissertation, including writing, analyzing, or preparing to defend.
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Absolutely! While the program is designed with the final stages in mind, it’s also beneficial for those working on their dissertation proposal. You’ll gain clarity, structure, and strategies to create a strong foundation and roadmap for your dissertation journey.
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Foundation coaching includes bi-weekly group sessions, co-writing spaces, and tools. Premium coaching gives you the best of both worlds: access to everything in group coaching, plus personalized 1:1 sessions, developmental editing, and custom dissertation planning for individualized support.
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These sessions are intentionally designed to keep you on track without overwhelm, while making space for flexibility in your schedule. Before the program begins, a scheduling poll will be shared to coordinate the best group meeting times. Our weekly Write with Sis sessions are a standing space for accountability and community—held on Wednesdays from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET, with an additional evening session offered every Thursday. In addition, Inner Sister Circle events are typically scheduled for Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 7:30 PM ET.
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The program runs for 6 months, providing consistent support to help you meet your dissertation goals.
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Complete the application to be considered, You’ll receive an email with the next steps when enrollment opens.
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Clients in this program create clear roadmaps to finish their dissertations within 6 to 12 months, with tailored support to help them stay on track. While outcomes depend on your starting point and commitment, the program equips you with the tools, strategies, and confidence to make consistent progress.
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By enrolling early, you get:
Immediate access to Fall 2025 events, including our guest speaker series & co-writing sessions
A head start with personalized onboarding and your Dissertation Roadmap
Priority access to Premium and VIP coaching spots before general enrollment opens
Ready to Move From ABD to Defended?
Your dissertation is more than a requirement—it’s the foundation of your scholarly legacy. Let’s build it together.