Welcome to our Purpose Stories blog series. Today we are so excited to be joined by Professor Akwugo Emejulu from Warwick University. With fewer than 1% of Black professors, we are delighted to get the opportunity to hear more about Akwugo’s experiences and words of wisdom.
Purpose Stories is where we interview amazing women from different industries, at all levels of their careers to get an insight into what they do, how they got there and any career advice that they may have.
Read below to get to know more about Akwugo:
Introduction
Thank you Professor Akwugo Emejulu for joining us at Her Path to Purpose. Can you tell us about your journey into academia?
I always knew I wanted to be an academic. However, it was really important to me that I didn’t just go straight into doing a PhD from my undergraduate studies. I wanted to be out in the world, making change at the grassroots and then bring that knowledge into academia. And that’s what I did—after I completed my undergrad degree in political science, I then went on to work as a community organiser, a trade union organiser and a community-based researcher. Once I felt I had learned what I could from my time in the field, I went back to university to do my masters and PhD.
It’s reported that fewer than 1% of professors are black, what are your thoughts on this?
Folks often misrepresent what academia is by thinking about it as an ‘ivory tower’ or rarified or somehow set apart from everyday life. Well guess what? Academia is a space like any other where inequalities are reproduced. We see that most starkly in the small number of Black women professors in the UK. A lot of us are ‘firsts’. Like it’s crazy to me that I am literally the first Black woman professor, ever, at Warwick. Olivette Otele at Bristol is the first Black woman professor, ever, in the discipline of History. That we are making history like this in the 21st century reveals something very important about how academia operates to exclude and demoralise Black women academics. But don’t let this fact put you off academia. Let it inspire you to do what you love—albeit with your eyes wide open about what to expect.
There are many young women who aspire to undertake doctoral studies. What was your PhD thesis about?
My PhD thesis examined the different ways in which community activism was defined and practised in Britain and the United States and how marginalised groups—especially Black women and women of colour—struggled to be taken seriously as agents for change. It’s been awhile since I thought about my PhD, so apologies if this sounds a little boring!
What advice would you give to young women who would like to enter into academia?
People don’t believe me when I say this but the success of any academic is based on the ability to sit in a room by yourself for long periods of time just reading and writing. Academics aren’t necessarily ‘smarter’ than anyone else, we just have a high tolerance for isolation. So, the first test is, do you enjoy doing research and writing? Are you curious about the world and want to explore it further? The second test is whether you enjoy teaching and working with young people to inspire them to be their best selves. If so, academia might be right for you. However, if you really dislike writing and don’t like the idea of working intensively with young people, then academia might not be right for you.
If you think you want to be an academic, then start building your community from your first year at university and keep building all through your masters and PhD work. You need a community of like-minded folks who will support you but also provide you with constructively critical feedback. Academia is very individualistic, hyper-competitive and hierarchical and it can lead to weird and toxic relationships. To survive and thrive, you need your crew who will be there for you (and you for them) through the ups and downs.
What are your research interests?
I examine racial, ethnic and gender inequalities in Europe and the United States and I study women of colour’s grassroots activism.
When you reflect upon your career thus far are there any key defining moments that you are particularly proud of?
Academia is funny in a way because all of us academics share similar milestones such as completing our PhD thesis or getting our first article published or getting our first grant. I’m proud of all those things. But I’m particularly proud of the accomplishments of the students that I’ve taught and mentored over years. I love watching people grow into themselves. I love seeing the self-confidence develop in my students and watching them achieve their dreams. For me, being an academic is a calling because I love watching my students win.
In your opinion what are your top 5 publications?
I don’t know if I like to rank my publications but I think my most important work is exploring women of colour’s models of resistance in Europe.
What/who inspires you?
I’m inspired by women of colour activists fighting for a better world. I’m inspired by some of my favourite writers: Toni Morrison, bell hooks, Colson Whitehead, Elena Ferrante, Alice Munro and many, many others.
What are your goals?
This sounds trite but I always want to stay open to wonder. These are such difficult times and I always want to be able to see and experience the beauty of this world.
What advice would you give to young women?
Be kind but don’t let anyone mistake your kindness for weakness.