Taylor Darwin (she/her) is a doctoral candidate in Curriculum and Instruction at Texas Tech University. She is a mathematics instructor at a North Central Texas College, which serves various rural communities. Darwin’s dissertation research is focused on underserved rural STEM teachers’ curriculum development, implementation in the classroom, and impact on teachers’ self-efficacy.

The One Where You Survive A PhD In A Global Pandemic…

Discover how one PhD student survived and even thrived during the global pandemic in this inspiring story of resilience and perseverance. From coping with the uncertainties of lockdown to finding balance and kindness in academic life, this journey offers valuable insights and lessons for anyone pursuing a PhD.

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Being Gay in Academia: Unravelling Suffocating Contradictions

This article explores the experience of a gay man entering academia in an oppressive conservative culture, creating impossible contradictions between who they are and who academia wants them to be. Professional norms of academia clash with stereotypes of what ‘gay’ looks like to produce a suffocating costume that we often feel is necessary to survive. The article advocates for representation of minority groups in academia to expand ideas of who we can be – and for PhD students to care for one another and embrace our unique stories and identities.

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