This past April, I defended my dissertation before 200 friends, family, mentors and former colleagues, and heard the words I had worked toward for more than a decade: “Dr. Waller-Bey.”

In that moment, the journey from a yellow-brick, two-family flat on Sturtevant Street on Detroit’s west side to the halls of the University of Michigan neared its culmination.

I’ve made no secret about where I’m from, proudly embracing my humble beginnings, and the title of first-generation college student. I’ve written about my background in editorials, and shared stories about cold nights and near-empty refrigerators in national keynotes and conferences. For many, I am a success story — a Black girl from Dexter and Linwood who defied the odds, proof that you can “make it out” with hard work and determina

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