“I wanted to go back to school so I could do more to impact higher education and see people thrive,” Lee-Johnson says.

Having participated in pre-college programs in high school, she was interested in working with students of color and underrepresented populations, and conducting research to improve college access and retention.

Research with purpose

Lee-Johnson researched a few options, but the doctorate program within the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA) at UW–Madison stood out. From day one, she says that department faculty members and graduate students were incredibly supportive.

“Everyone was highly involved in my success,” says Lee-Johnson.

Five years later, she has built many strong, lasting relationships.

“I have come in contact with some amazing colleagues and peers at UW, and without them this journey would not have been possible,” she adds.

During the doctorate program, Lee-Johnson took classes and worked on vital research related to college access, specifically looking at the experiences of undergraduate black women in leadership positions at historically black colleges and universities. She also examined the graduate school socialization process for students of color.

“I think often the reason we go into research is because we want something to be better for our communities or our own selves,” she says.

She also co-edited a book –– a rare opportunity for a graduate student –– titled, “Critical Theory and Qualitative Data Analysis in Education.”

“It’s still surreal to contribute to a book and see people use it and add it to their syllabus,” Lee-Johnson says. “In my chapter, I try to show people that data is everywhere, like on Twitter and in TV commercials, and we can use those platforms for research.”

Contributing to a more inclusive campus

Graduating with her Ph.D. comes on the heels of another massive achievement: Lee-Johnson was recently inducted into the Bouchet Graduate Honors Society. The society recognizes scholars who exemplify academic and personal excellence, and serve as examples of scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy.

Lee-Johnson was a well-suited for this honor. “I’m always thinking of ways we can be more inclusive and warm, especially on a campus of this size,” she says.

In addition to taking classes and conducting research, Lee-Johnson has filled the role of diversity ambassador and college access coordinator on campus for high school students.

“I have helped schools build programs for black girls and what it means to go to college,” she says. “I also helped host first-generation and underrepresented students who visit from all across the country.”

As a graduate with a Ph.D. from ELPA, a 2019 Bouchet Honor Society inductee, and a 2017 Future Faculty Program selectee, Lee-Johnson has a bright future. She will become a critical scholar focused on work to be done in higher education.

“I want to use my research to give a voice to those who have often been silenced,” she says.