What happens when the demands of graduate school intersect with the realities of parenthood?
In this episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, host David Mendes sits down with Dr. Jackie Hoermann-Elliott and Dr. Jenna Morton-Aiken, editors of the book Parenting While PhDing. Together, they explore what it means to navigate academic life while raising children, and why the experiences of graduate student parents are still largely invisible in academia.
Drawing from their own journeys and from the many stories collected in their book, Jackie and Jenna discuss the challenges, institutional barriers, and support systems that shape the lives of PhD students who are also parents.
This conversation shines a light on a topic that is rarely addressed openly: how academia can evolve to support researchers not just as scholars, but also as caregivers and members of families.
Dr. Jackie Hoermann-Elliott is an Associate Professor of English at Texas Woman’s University. Her work explores embodied learning, writing, and well-being in academia, and she is an advocate for more inclusive academic environments for students and families.
Dr. Jenna Morton-Aiken is a scholar and writing program leader at Brown University’s Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning. She works with faculty and graduate students across disciplines to support teaching, writing, and mentorship in higher education.
Together, they edited the book Parenting While PhDing, a collection of narratives and advice from graduate students and academics who have navigated the challenges of parenting during doctoral studies.
🔍 In this episode
What it’s like to have a child during graduate school
The hidden realities faced by graduate student parents
Why parenthood in academia often remains invisible
The role of community and peer support for PhD parents
Institutional barriers and policies affecting parenting during a PhD
Advice for graduate students considering starting a family during their PhD
See the resources section below for Jackie and Jenna’s links!
This episode’s resources:
- Prenting While PhDing | Buy the book
- Jackie H.-Elliott on X | @DrJackieWrites
- JackieJenna M.-Aiken on X | @WriteJMA
Thank you, Jackie and Jenna!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Jackie Hoermann-Elliott and Jenna Morton-Aiken, let them know by clicking the links below and leaving them a message on Linkedin:
Send Jackie Hoermann-Elliott a thank you message on Linkedin!
Send Jenna Morton-Aiken a thank you message on Linkedin!
Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!
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