Curating the Self and Embracing the Community

This edited volume comprises a compilation of autoethnographic evocations from U.S. doctoral students in the fields of social sciences and humanities, who narrate and analyze their experiences in the doctoral journey and beyond. Through 11 select contributions, the book examines the intersections and shifting roles of the personal and the community in the doctoral student journey, illustrating the complex and unique nature of pursuing a doctoral degree. Part 1, Curating the Self, includes five autoethnographic accounts that speak directly to the personal challenges and transformations experienced in the doctoral journey. Part 2, Embracing the Community, includes six autoethnographic accounts illustrating supportive communities’ life-changing power during the doctoral journey.

Contributors are: Gabriel T. Acevedo Velázquez, Ahmad A. Alharthi, Afiya Armstrong, Nick Bardo, Caitlin Beare, Rebecca Borowski, Anya Ezhevskaya, Christopher Fornaro, Melinda Harrison, Linda Helmick, Joanelle Morales, Olya Perevalova, Alexis Saba, Kimberly Sterin, Katrina Struloeff, Rebecca L. Thacker, Lisa D. Wood, Erin H. York, Christel Young and Nara Yun.

Luis Javier Pentón Herrera is Full Professor at the Akademia Ekonomiczno-Humanistyczna w Warszawie, Poland, the Coordinator of the Graduate TESOL Certificate at The George Washington University, United States, and Co-Editor of Tapestry: A Multimedia Journal for Teachers and English Learners.

Ethan Trinh is a Vietnamese, queer, non-binary, immigrant, researcher, and critical language teacher educator and earned their doctorate at Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA. Their works focus on emotions and well-being in language education that embraces queerness as a healing teaching and research practice.


Bedrettin Yazan is Associate Professor in the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio. His research focuses on language teacher identity, language policy and planning, and World Englishes. Methodologically he is interested in critical autoethnography, narrative inquiry, and qualitative case study.

"Bravo to all the contributors of this edited collection. The editors, in particular, worked tirelessly to cull a diverse body of experiences, voices, and identities in exploring the (auto) (duo) (collaborative) ethnographies of doctoral journeys. This is a timely collection as the need for doctoral curricula continues to shift with the sociocultural and political demands of the world." – Gloria Park, Professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA

“Curating the Self and Embracing the Community: Autoethnographic Evocations of U.S. Doctoral Students in the Fields of Social Sciences and Humanities is a unique collection of autoethnographic narratives that offers profound insights into the trials and triumphs of pursuing a doctoral degree. The book beautifully weaves together personal accounts from U.S. doctoral students, providing a captivating exploration of the intersection between the personal and the communal in their doctoral journeys. With its carefully curated stories, the book captures the challenges, transformations, and empowering communities that shape personal growth and discovery. This thought-provoking and inspiring volume is a must-read for anyone exploring, or currently engaged in, a doctoral journey in the humanities and social sciences.” – Silvia Vaccino-Salvadore, Assistant Professor, American University of Sharjah, UAE

“Curating the Self and Embracing the Community: Autoethnographic Evocations of U.S. Doctoral Students in the Fields of Social Sciences and Humanities offers present and aspiring doctoral students a unique perspective often overlooked in academic discourse. Many embarking on the doctoral journey remain unaware of the profound impact that critical self-examination, repositioning, and personal and professional transformation can have. Through engaging autoethnographic narratives, this work beckons scholars to find camaraderie within an environment marked by both excellence and isolation, all while honing new skills. The captivating, authentic, and insightful accounts presented in this groundbreaking volume make it an indispensable read for anyone venturing into the fields of humanities and social sciences.” – Katie Archer Olson, Associate Professor/Co-Director of Education, Alaska Pacific University