The Respass Report - Episode 23: Interview with Dr. Atira Charles, Professor at Florida A&M and Diversity Expert

This week we have a wide-ranging interview with Dr. Atira Charles, Assistant Professor of Management at Florida A&M University and a diversity consultant. We discuss how Dr. Charles got admitted to Florida A&M at 16 on a full scholarship and had her Ph.D from Arizona State University at age 27. She reflects on how it felt to be one of a few black female Ph.Ds is her field. She also hugged President Obama at her Ph.D commencement against Secret Service advice! We discuss theoretical perspectives on US Senator Kamala Harris(D-CA) and the hostility she is facing as a black woman in a work environment dominated by white men. Dr. Charles also offers advice for those who are dreaming of going to graduate school but are nervous about standardized tests and more. Dr. Charles is also Founder of The Mask Project. This initiative creates an opportunity to document the experiences and journey of successful professionals that have had to balance and manage a variety of identities, such as race and gender. http://www.ourmasks.com