Christina Sessoms

As a 6th year doctoral candidate from the metropolitan Seattle, WA area, Christina Sessoms’ dissertation works with Black women in understanding their experience while in doctoral education and how their joy may be utilized as a resilience mechanism. She received her BA in Comparative Ethnic Studies with a focus on Black Studies and a minor in Political Science from Washington State University in May of 2015. While at UMD, Christina also serves as the graduate assistant for The University Career Center & The President’s Promise. In addition, she continues to serve as the department’s representative for the Dean’s Graduate Student Advisory Board and as an active member of UMD’s Black Graduate Student Union Executive Board. In 2018, Christina became the recipient of the President’s Commission on Women’s Issues’ Women of Influence Award in recognition of her effective involvement in activities that span the spectrum of women’s issues from career advancement to sexual misconduct policies. Outside of the UMD space, she mentors young women for two DC-based college access organizations.