Cohort Sistas is committed to advancing equity in doctoral education by enhancing recruitment, retention, and economic resources of historically underrepresented scholars, with a particular focus on Black women and nonbinary people.
Our comprehensive professional development, personalized mentorship, and supportive community are open to all students pursuing research doctorates, so they can successfully navigate academia and connect to meaningful careers in higher education and the global workforce.
What Drives Us
We believe that all scholars should be able to enter, thrive in, and complete doctoral programs with equitable institutional, financial, and socio-emotional support, mentorship, and opportunities. But we know that’s not the reality.
3%
Black women earn only
of research doctorates in the United States each year, a figure that has not changed in nearly 20 years, despite making up 7% of the population
it takes black women an average of
2.7
additional years to complete their doctoral degrees, compared to all doctorates, often due to a lack of quality mentorship and support
black doctorates accrue
3x
more graduate school debt than other racial-ethnic groups as they are less likely to receive funding to cover the cost of their doctoral education
We work to…
Increase the number of Black women and nonbinary people who matriculate into and complete doctoral degrees.
Reduce the undue financial and emotional burden of doctoral education for Black women and nonbinary people.
Strengthen the pipeline of Black women and nonbinary leaders in higher education, research, government, and industry, whose work and influence will create positive social change for all.
Our Guiding Values
01 | Community
We build a strong community where everyone feels connected to each other in service to the greater purpose of success for all.
02 | Belonging
We create communities where belonging is a result of inclusive practices permeating throughout all of our processes.
03 | LEARNING
We challenge one another to pursue ideas and opportunities that encourage independent thinking and knowledge exchange.
04 | Advancement
We equip one another with access to tools, opportunities, and resources to make meaningful progress in our careers, well-being, and lives.
Some of our valued supporters
Our History
Founded in July 2020, in the wake of increased racial justice mobilization and the destabilization of in-person educational networks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cohort Sistas has grown to a community of over 3,000 Black women and nonbinary doctoral students, applicants, and degree holders from around the world.
