Punam V. Saxena holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Master’s in Education and currently working on her doctorate in education. Throughout her 30 years of experience teaching and volunteering in her children’s schools, she implemented several procedures that have benefited the students and administrators within the school district. She has been recognized as Volunteer of the Year at Harrison School for the Arts and has received a Key to the City, both in Lakeland, Florida. Punam is a Parent Impact Coach, TEDx speaker, podcast host of edu-Me, a published author. Her work focuses on bridging the gap and fostering and stronger relationship between parents and schools by empowering parents to become partners in their child’s education. Her passion and work stem from her life experiences as a first-generation Indian American as well as raising her own four children. She currently works with clients to equip them with strategies to ensure they advocate for their children in a productive manner that works for them and their children.

From Stay-at-Home Mom to Doctorate Student at 50

Not all doctoral degrees are earned in your 30s and 40s. While many pursue doctoral degrees during those years to attain professional gains and financial security, this article shows how enrolling in a PhD program in your 50s can bring a fresh lens due to entering a new season of life and finally having a window of opportunity to step outside your comfort zone.

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90 and Thriving: Dr Bronwyn Herbert’s Later-in-Life PhD Kept Her Feeling Younger

At ninety years old, Dr Bronwyn Herbert has completed her PhD at the University of Queensland, Australia. The PhD Place had the pleasure of interviewing her across the globe to share her inspiring story with our readers! Drawing on her extensive career in social work and her wealth of life experience, Bronwyn promotes the joy of lifelong learning and showcases the power of resilience that every PhD student can seek to emulate.

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Coping with Bereavement During a PhD: Grow Around the Grief

Grief is a lesser-discussed topic in academia, but processing grief due to the loss of a loved one compounds the challenges of doing a PhD. In this thought-provoking article, Kathryn Zacharek shares her experience of navigating a PhD during bereavement, where she took time out, leaned on her support networks, and researched ways to let her life ‘grow around the grief’.

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