Acknowledgments

I originally conceived the idea for this project three years ago. While the initial idea was mine, it has been nothing short of a community effort to bring this book to fruition. Several individuals have either contributed directly to the outcome of this project or otherwise inspired it. They merit recognition by name.

I thank the authors of the chapters for not only their willingness to contribute to this book, but also their talents in crafting powerful and engaging narratives. Many of the stories recited in this book are deeply personal and required authors to enter spaces of vulnerability by exposing certain intimate details about themselves and the things they encountered during their pursuit of a PhD. I genuinely believe that it is these very stories that will encourage readers to consider the current disposition of the doctoral student experience and to identify paths by which to make it better.