Dohnysha Collins Application For Educational Psychology

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I am writing this letter in support of Dohnysha Collins’ application for the Ph.D. program in Educational Psychology at Howard University. I have served as Ms. Collins’ academic advisor, professor, and research mentor since fall 2016 and am able to speak to her research interests and academic abilities. Ms. Collins and I began working together after she expressed interest in comparing students in the Caribbean to students in the United States in regards to their educational outcomes and academic motivation. As a result of her initial research interest, Dohnysha joined my Achievement, Identity, Motivation, and Success (A.I.M.S.) Research lab during the spring 2017 semester. During summer 2017, we worked with two additional students and developed …show more content…

Collins’ academic work in her psychological research courses places her in the top 10% of psychology majors here at Winston-Salem State University. I am able to say this because she is currently enrolled in my Research Methods and Statistics II course where she has completed a research paper on the relationship between academic success and academic identity. Over the course of this semester, Dohnysha has collected and analyzed data for this project using IBM SPSS and has shown her ability to develop a research project and create and answer research questions. She is a highly self-regulated learner, which makes her an ideal candidate for graduate work.
In my opinion as an educational psychologist, Dohnysha has what it takes to pursue and complete a graduate degree in an educational research field. In fact, we are in the process of identifying and applying for graduate programs in educational psychology and educational research. Upon completion of a PhD, Ms. Collins desires to become a faculty member. The quality of her undergraduate research work is solid for a student who has only completed one research course. Further, as a graduate of Howard University, I know the training and mentorship she will receive will enable her to reach her goals. Lastly, Dohnysha’s dedication, maturity, and motivation make her an excellent candidate for doctoral work at Howard University because she will use what she learns to further her education and impact the field of education in a positive way for students of color in the United States and abroad. I recommend her without reservation. If I can answer additional questions, please contact me at