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Dissertation coaching, and academic coaching more generally, is a process in which an author hires a coach to help him or her achieve writing goals that are for some reason stymied. Most of the time, those goals are related to writing process, accountability (or lack thereof), or substantive challenges that manifest themselves in writing (like most organizational problems). For Faculty Services, click here. For Grad Student Services, keep reading. FAQ located below current programs.

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Many people can benefit from working, even for a short while, with a dissertation or academic coach. Maybe you're struggling to make a chapter's organization work, or perhaps your lit review won't come together, or perhaps you have no idea how to present your results. Maybe you're working remotely from your program without easy access to peer or faculty support. Maybe you know what you want to say but writing issues impede communication with your reader. Maybe your writing's fine, but the lack of accountability has left you making only a trickle of progress when your new job's start date demands a flood. If you're struggling with any part of your dissertation, then coaching might be the solution for you.

Most of my work with clients is centered around management strategies: time management, project management, writing management, self-management, and the like. I am not a committee member; I will talk substance with you only to the extent that you request it. That said, I've got an eclectic background and I'm widely read, so I often have interesting insights. But my goal is NOT to be a committee member - it's to help provide whatever guidance or skills you may be looking for.

In 7+ years, I've had 25+ successful defenses; I expect another couple this summer. Previous student clients have come from the schools listed in the word cloud to the right.

To see what previous clients had to say about working with me, try reading some of the Testimonials.

Small Group Dissertation Coaching

I offer small group coaching for early, middle and late stage dissertators. This highly affordable option ($175) gets you 15 weeks of support from Leanne and a group of similarly-situated peers. Package includes ~11 weeks of structured content and several weeks of workshopping student documents with feedback from peers and Leanne. Early-stage small-group coaching is ideal for students writing their prospectus or project proposal, or having recently completed it. Middle-stage is for those who are done with data collection and actively writing up. Late-stage is for those in the final push, with a defense/submission date within the next 4-6 months. Students planning to defend this term, or who are doing full-time data collection, are not good candidates for this program. Small group times and registration: Via Wix after AUg 19 Groups reqiure 4 participants to run; Late group runs only by request.

Dissertation Workshop: $100

Small group program of 15 weeks of weekly meetings at fixed times. Goal setting, accountability, problem solving, and curriculum as appropriate or needed by the group. Writing time is possible if no one has problem-solving needs that week. Students at any stage of the process are eligible provided they have graduated from one of the small group programs or one-on-one programs. Contact Leanne at Leanne@leannecpowner.com to register.

One-on-One Coaching

A VERY limited number of one-on-one coaching slots are available each term. These sessions are 60 minutes per week for 15 of 16 weeks, and require a consultation and approval to register. This is meant to ensure that the limited spaces go to people whose needs cannot be served by small group coaching. If you're interested in coaching, please email me and tell me a little about why you're looking for coaching. We'll set up a (free) initial consult where we can discuss your situation in more depth and determine whether we're a good match to work together and under what terms. Registration links will be provided to qualified candiates.

Other Offerings

Problem Solver Package: $75

Two focused one-hour consultations, usually a couple weeks apart, including a document review, or else three consultations. Ideal for those struggling with a manuscript that's been rejected or got conflicting revision recommendations, and those working on shorter projects like grant applications. It can be helpful for breaking through a logjam on a prospectus. It's also a good way to try out coaching before committing to a full semester. Depending on the issue, we can substitute a third meeting for a document review. Problem Solver packages can happen at any time in the year or term.

What is coaching?

Academic coaching is primarily about providing you with the support that you need to get your dissertation or other writing project done. That might be goal-setting and accountability for some people; it might be feedback and writing support for others; it might be something totally different or a blend of both for others. Together we'll work to identify the barriers you have to getting your project done, and we'll craft a plan for working in stages to get past them. We'll touch base regularly via videoconference to take stock of progress and update the plan. I'll read chapters or sections that you send me and offer feedback to see if we're actually solving the problem. Academic coaching does the same thing, but for a wider variety of kinds of things - books and articles and grant applications - and for faculty as well as graduate students.

How does one-on-one coaching work?

Once we've agreed to work together - and that's a mutual decision - we'll sit down for an e-meeting where we discuss your progress, writing strategies, and goals. We'll then outline a work plan for the semester to help you reach your goals and set up a schedule of regular progress check meetings. Your semester one-on-one coaching fee gets you a weekly hourlong meeting where we touch base with your goals, discuss your progress, review any documents you've sent me, and make a plan for until the next meeting. For dissertation coaching, it also includes my providing detailed feedback on one document (usually a chapter, market documents, grant application, or a similar project) each term, along with access to the usually monthly Boot Camp writing retreats.

What services do you offer? How much does it cost?

I offer five main packages of graduate student services: three full-term packages and two short packages. The year has three four-month terms - fall (Sept-Dec), winter/spring (Jan-Apr), and summer (May-Aug). Small group coaching for early, middle, and late groups is now offered every term.

How does this affect what I do with my chair and committee?

It ensures that you give them a better product because you've had more feedback on writing, structure, and organization, and it helps you get things to them on an agreed timeline. They still have the final call over what to include, how to do the analysis, etc. I will provide suggestions, as any good reviewer would, where I see opportunities to improve the analysis or research design, but the final decision is up to you and your committee.

What is your background?

I have a PhD in political science from the University of Michigan and extensive training and experience in giving feedback on academic writing. Because of my background, I prefer to confine my clientele to political science, international relations, public policy or closely related social sciences; this has included sociology, information sciences, and public health. Humanities clients and EdD's will be considered with an approved prospectus on a case-by-case basis, but 'fit' between your needs and what I can provide is key. I don't want to shortchange you or give you second-class service.

Please note: My copyediting services are separate from coaching services. Coaching is a long-term relationship where we improve habits and work on writing fundamentals. It is not a mechanism to obtain proofreading or copyediting services for your dissertation. Dissertation copyediting is available by priot arrangement for $3 per double-spaced page. Email Leanne if you are interested in this service. ALLOW AT LEAST TWO WEEKS FOR TURNAROUND.

Last updated on Wednesday, 31-Jul-2024 13:06:12 PDT