oach
Experienced Dissertation Advisor – from Concept Development to Overcoming Obstacles:
The scholarly pursuit can be fraught with anxiety, judgment and competition, but it also presents an opportunity for self-transformation. I believe that is what most students are truly after. I regularly advise students, “when you do the work, the work works you.” The same kind of curiosity, earnest discipline, and contemplative skill that one brings to spiritual practice can make academic life abundantly rewarding.
With over 15 years of experience coaching and teaching graduate students I offer strong academic guidance and compassionate support in equal measure. I enable students to advance from vague topics to viable proposals with a researchable problem and a clearly articulated approach. Regularly Chairing 12 committees per year, I steered students through typical hurdles – both academic and psychological – and helped them produce creative and incisive work.
A unique dimension of my coaching is the use of Yoga Nidra. This type of guided meditation establishes intention at a deep level of consciousness and helps free creativity while loosening the bonds of crippling anxiety. As a certified Level II Yoga and Yoga Nidra instructor I have integrated these grounding and liberating practices to advance my own work. Students who are facing the daunting project of research and writing a dissertation find relief in a permission-giving practice that integrates body and mind, intellect and passion.
I offer services as an independent Dissertation Coach/Editor:
For assistance with the development of the dissertation concept paper or proposal, I provide two one-hour sessions by telephone or Skype and feedback on two separate drafts of the paper/proposal, up to 15 pages in length. The cost is $500.
I will provide extensive editorial feedback on one reading of an entire dissertation manuscript. Feedback covers organization, content and conceptual coherence, clarity of expression and style, and formatting according to appropriate disciplinary guidelines. I also accept single-chapter submissions for editorial review. The cost is $80/hour. The total cost will vary depending on the degree of feedback required and page length. On average a full manuscript review will cost between $800-$1,500. Bibliographical editing, which checks compliance with the required disciplinary style guidelines and corrects entries accordingly, is $100/hour.
Please allow one month for a full dissertation review. Rush orders are available for an additional $250 fee.
I offer one free 30-minute telephone consultation about your project and editorial needs, and how my services may benefit you. To schedule an appointment go to the “Contact” page.
Mentor
Ile-Ife Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) – Nigeria
The Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, that provides skills and mentoring for African graduate students and young scholars.
As a Faculty Member in 2018 I taught the following workshops:
Technology and Research: hands-on demonstration of web-based tools and strategies for their use
Thesis Development: how to develop researchable questions that offer traction and create new knowledge
In 2019 I developed the Keynote presentation for the Seminar on Ethnography
Mentoring since 2018 has included:
review and feedback on Mentees’ articles
advice on placing publications
feedback on CVs
providing letters of reference
Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) – http://www.ias-iin.com/scholars/laura-grillo/
Faculty Profile: https://www.ife-ias.com/faculty
Profile Article about the IAS Mentoring Initiative
“At the Mythological center of the World, a Unique Pedagogical Initiative Launches in Nigeria” co-authored with Samantha Lakin. The Huffington Post (August 3, 2017). https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/at-the-mythological-center-of-the-world-a-unique-pedagogical_us_5982df82e4b0396a95c874e4