Cohort Sistas is dedicated to advancing gender and racial equity in doctoral education.
Our mission is to foster inclusive pathways to advanced research doctorates by enhancing the recruitment, retention, success, and well-being of historically excluded scholars, especially Black women.
Since 2020, Cohort Sistas has provided digital resources, personalized mentorship, and a supportive network to doctoral students, applicants, and degree holders, helping them navigate academia, build meaningful careers, and increase their well-being.
We envision equitable doctoral education as a path to progress, prosperity, and transformative societal change.
We believe that all scholars should be able to enter, thrive in, and complete doctoral programs with equitable institutional, financial, and socio-emotional support, mentorship, and opportunities. But we know that’s not the reality.
3%
Black women earn only
of research doctorates in the United States each year, a figure that has not changed in nearly 20 years, despite making up 7% of the population
it takes black women an average of
2.7
additional years to complete their doctoral degrees, compared to all doctorates, often due to a lack of quality mentorship and support
black doctorates accrue
3x
more graduate school debt than other racial-ethnic groups as they are less likely to receive funding to cover the cost of their doctoral education
We work to…
Increase the number of Black women and nonbinary people who matriculate into and complete doctoral degrees.
Reduce the undue financial and emotional burden of doctoral education for Black women and nonbinary people.
Strengthen the pipeline of Black women and nonbinary leaders in higher education, research, government, and industry, whose work and influence will create positive social change for all.
Our Team
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Dr. Ijeoma Kola (she/her) is the Founder and Executive Director of Cohort Sistas, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting historically underrepresented scholars in doctoral education through mentorship, community building, and tailored resources.
An Assistant Professor at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Kola researches the modern history of race, medicine, and environmental justice. Her commitment to supporting underrepresented students began as an undergraduate at Harvard University, where she led near-peer mentoring programs, and continued through subsequent roles as a peer educator, mentor, and health advocate.
In addition to her academic and professional work, Dr. Kola has connected with diverse audiences through blogging, where her storytelling reached over 250,000 followers and championed empowerment and representation. A proud first-generation immigrant, Dr. Kola earned her PhD in Sociomedical Sciences from Columbia University and remains driven by a belief in the transformative power of education.
Ijeoma Kola, PhD
Tierra Williams, EdD
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Tierra Williams is an educator and advocate deeply committed to advancing equity, access, and belonging in higher education. A proud first-generation college graduate, she understands the transformative power of opportunity and the importance of creating pathways that support the success and well-being of all students.
She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership, where her research and practice focused on student development, mentorship, and enhancing access to the resources and opportunities students need to succeed. Throughout her career, she has led initiatives that foster academic achievement, designed programs that strengthen student engagement, and cultivated mentorship networks that help emerging scholars thrive.
Her journey is a testament to perseverance and purpose, and she remains dedicated to paving the way for others to do the same. She is committed to creating spaces where every learner feels empowered to achieve their fullest potential. Guided by a belief that education is both a catalyst for personal growth and a vehicle for social change, she continues to inspire students and colleagues to lead with vision, empathy, and purpose.
Board of Directors
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Blair Presley Bone, PhD
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Hillary Webb-Ganaway, EdD
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Joanne Kamens, PhD
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Makeda Turner, PhD
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Steven Lipper
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Taisha Caldwell-Harvey, PhD
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Tiffany Wiggins, PhD
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Ijeoma Kola, PhD
Our Guiding Values
01 | ADVANCEMENT
We empower one another with access to tools, resources, and opportunities to make meaningful progress in our education, careers, well-being, and lives.
02 | Belonging
We cultivate communities where belonging results from inclusive practices permeating all our processes, ensuring everyone feels connected in service to the greater purpose of success for all.
03 | COMMUNITY-CENTERED
We prioritize the needs and aspirations of our community, actively engaging them in collaborative decision-making processes and responding thoughtfully to their feedback.
04 | diversity
We celebrate and embrace diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences, recognizing that they enrich our collective journey and drive innovation.
05 | equity
We advocate for fairness, justice, and inclusivity, ensuring every scholar we serve, regardless of race, gender, or background, has access to the resources and support they need to succeed.
Our History
Founded in July 2020, in the wake of increased racial justice mobilization and the destabilization of in-person educational networks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cohort Sistas has grown to a community of over 3,000 Black women and nonbinary doctoral students, applicants, and degree holders from around the world.