reflections of my dissertation defense

I’m in the air, 34 days past successfully defending my dissertation and am on my way to an educational conference. Confined to a seat for four hours allows time for reflection and reminiscing about where the past seven years have brought me. When I started my PhD journey, I had more than 20 years of my career behind me. At times, I was older than most everyone in my class, including my professor. Some may have thought that I was too old to embark on such a venture. How silly. Age has never prevented me from doing something that I felt was important. Graduate school was no exception.

When I first met my advisor whom I later chose as my chair, I recall that he said my time in the program would go by fast. He was right. While there were occasions when minutes seemed like hours; more often than not, time marched on as birthdays came and went just as quickly as ever.

The last seven years have been some of the most challenging yet most rewarding of my life. As I look back, I have made deep connections with those in the program and have grown in ways that I could never have imagined. It’s hard to explain the overwhelming emotions that intensified as time drew near for me to defend. I was a mess the week before. I was stressed and anxious, wondering if I would be properly prepared.

I will never forget that day in William & Mary’s Sir Christopher Wren Building. Purposefully chosen by me as my defense venue, it required extra effort just to share my presentation with the audience. I was focused and in full work mode as we prepared the room for my defense. Having no technology in one of the oldest academic buildings in the country, I, my husband, and a faithful colleague carried equipment up the stairs to the Blue Room as there was no elevator. It was worth the effort.

As I stood and defended my dissertation with a portrait of George Washington behind me and one of Margaret Thatcher before me, I shared what I had learned through research of my impassioned topic: Student Interactions, Connections and Retention in an Online MBA Program: An Exploratory Study. The dark-paneled room was full of people. Only one small bench against the wall had available seating.

I was confident as my committee sought clarification in their queries about my research. The audience was attentive and asked thoughtful and engaging questions. Upon completion of the questions, my committee asked me and others to leave the room while they deliberated. Outside in the hallway, I chatted with my colleagues and friends until my committee chair opened the door and called for Dr. Conner to return to the room. I had passed.

In the tradition of those who had gone before me, I then rang the iconic Wren bell three times: once for the past, once for the present, and once for the future. I can’t recall a happier moment. While my past is a bit longer than most graduate students, my present is equally as joyful, and my future is just as bright. In 39 days, I will again follow in the steps of others and make the ceremonious walk across the historic campus as I graduate. If you are considering graduate school but are concerned that you have waited too long, don’t be. If we are lucky, we will all grow old. We might as well grow old with the benefits of the degree. I am proud of what I have accomplished at William & Mary and look forward with hope and anticipation of what is to come.