Ph.D. student DeeAnn Spicer has attended Writing Wednesdays with our Initiative for Minority Excellence—she says they’ve helped her feel like part of a community while in graduate school.
Where do you consider to be your hometown?
Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago/Silver Spring, MD 
What is your degree program?
Ph.D. in philosophy
What motivates you?
It can be hard to stay motivated in a Ph.D. program which is largely self-directed, and you work in isolation. What motivates me is seeing my students learn new ideas and new ways to think about the world. I think about how I’m contributing to the body of knowledge that will be taught to future students, and how I want to be one of the professors who gets to teach them.
Why did you choose UNC-Chapel Hill?
One of the main reasons I chose UNC-Chapel Hill was that the philosophy department seemed like a congenial and welcoming community.
How have you built community at Carolina?
I’ve built a community by intentionally creating space for social engagements, whether that be one-on-one lunch dates or Writing Wednesdays with IME. Even writing alongside people who I don’t know can help me feel more like a part of a community.
Describe Diversity and Student Success in five words!
A fun, supportive and friendly community.