Graduates: Paula Quick Hall, Ph. D.

Dr. Hall on SisterMentors:

I am writing to describe how participation in SisterMentors changed my life. I had been working on my doctoral dissertation for seven years when I joined the group. My first impression was that these women were phenomenal! They took seriously the task of helping one another through a very difficult process---sharing experiences, giving advice, and critiquing one another's work. I don't know that I had ever been with such a group of women so committed to each individual's success and well-being. . .

Through the dissertation support group I learned greater discipline and received the encouragement I needed to take the necessary actions. Simply having someone ask me to set short-term goals and to report my progress made a difference. Hearing from others about their struggles and uncertainty, and being able to support them helped tremendously. These women understood me, accepted me, and made me feel that the work I wanted to do had value. . . more

Bio

Born in Washington, D.C., Dr. Paula Quick Hall spent most of her life there or in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She earned her doctorate in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1998, specializing in Public Administration and Public Policy. She received her Master's degree in Public Administration in 1986 from the University of Southern California and her B.A. in Psychology from Howard University in 1971. Her dissertation was entitled "Race, Representation, and Educational Opportunity in North Carolina Public Schools." From Fall 1998 to June 2000, she served as Associate Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department at Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Dr. Hall has worked more than 10 years in not-for-profit organizations, including the College Board and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She has worked for nearly as long in education, at the Niagara Falls Board of Education, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, North Carolina Central University, and North Carolina A&T State University. Currently, she works for Research and Evaluation Associates, Inc. in North Carolina on several projects addressing issues including disproportionate confinement of minority youth in the juvenile justice system and childcare provider training.

She is widely published on issues of educational equity and minority women in science careers. Her interests are in racism, organization culture, public policy, and the education of African American people. Her proudest accomplishment is having reared a son and daughter, both of whom have graduated from college and are building interesting lives and contributing to the quality of life in their communities.