Check Out Dr. Courtney A. Griffin’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Courtney A. Griffin.

Hi Dr. Griffin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers. 
Anyone who knows me knows I am a born and raised Detroiter. I love the city of Detroit! It has crafted me into the woman I am today. Had anyone told me in high school that I would be here at 35, I wouldn’t have believed them. In high school, I wanted to become a medical doctor. However, Lyman Briggs biology at Michigan State University quickly humbled me. I changed my major a few times, against the advice of my family a few times during my freshman year at State. After graduating in 5 years with 2 bachelor’s degrees (Professional Writing/ Media, Arts and Technology), I decided to move to Chicago and pursue a graduate degree in Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse. There, I realized I wanted to stay within higher education, as I hadn’t seen enough Black women on my college journey. (Even after 5 college degrees, I still have not had a Black woman as a professor.) I pursued a second master’s degree (Instructional Technology) simply because it was free, and then decided to stop procrastinating and get the PhD I actually wanted. So, I still could be a “doctor”. I worked in online education throughout all of my graduate degrees and finally found a position in Detroit where I could also make an impact. My heart was smiling. After 12 years away, I was able to move back to Detroit, have a full-time job in higher education, and impact the future generation of learners. I love education. I love opportunities that education provides. I simply love it! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey has been full of struggles. I’m not even sure where to begin. Shall I start with almost flunking out of MSU my freshman year? Should I continue with working 2 jobs during undergrad to sustain life? Or moving to Chicago for graduate school without a job? Or my first semester of graduate school when my mom had a massive stroke? Or my first year of college teaching when my favorite aunt passed? Or losing my aunt, my grandmother, and my mom all in the same 5 months during the last semester of my 2 master’s degrees? I guess I can close with writing a dissertation during a global pandemic. However, I believe it’s less about the struggles and more on how you overcome those struggles that matter. That’s why my dissertation not only focuses on the obstacles women endure during their college experience, but how they overcame them. That’s what really matters. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work? I’m every Black girl who’s pursuing a college degree’s cheerleader! I’m here for you! I want to see you succeed. I want you to know you are not alone. I want you to know you got this! I am most proud of the impact I am making. Each time I receive an email or text from a previous student sharing their acoldates or asking for a letter of recommendation I know I’m fulfilling my dream. 

What sets me apart? It’s my energy; it’s my drive! It’s the Detroiter in me. You know, Detroiters have grit! We’re willing to get it done, regardless. That is the energy I give to every student I mentor. 

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We can collaborate by hosting workshops for girls in the city! They can support me by offering spaces to hold workshops and spreading the word to allow me to connect with more girls. 

Pricing:

• 7 Week Series – 3500
• Half- Day Workshop – 1500
• One- Hour Workshop – 750

Contact Info:

• Website: drcaegriffin.com
• Instagram: drcaegriffin / blackgirlscollegeguide
• Linkedin: drcaegriffin
• Twitter: drcaegriffin

Image Credits
Brix Room