Testimonials

Here just a few of the benefits I've received from coaching:

Participating in the weekly sessions with Dr Gaudet provides the support and motivation needed to continue pushing forward with my dissertation. Using proven strategies, she coaches you through setting realistic goals and helps you break things down into smaller, manageable tasks. Her warm, practical, compassionate, and nonjudgmental approach is greatly appreciated. Dr Gaudet is encouraging while holding me accountable for my own success. If you’re considering getting support for your dissertation journey, I cannot recommend Dr Gaudet highly enough!

-Cory Bergeron, PhD Student

I have used group coaching as a community grounding tool to both share and gain knowledge, as well as glean energy when I was drained and in need of a boost. Coach It Up is always at the ready with resources and tools to add to the researchers toolkit. I have also taken advantage of one-on-one sessions to break-through barriers or talk through next steps to ensure I had a solid path forward. Having a critical ear as a sounding board, someone who has been on every side of the dissertation has been vital to my progress.

– Charity Odom, Phd Student

The coaching sessions provide realistic instructions on effective dissertation writing.

The coaching sessions have inspired, encouraged and motivated me! I've set up a writing schedule and I "touch" my dissertation every day!

The power point presentations and the information provided during the coaching sessions are very useful and timely!

The coaching sessions include fantastic ideas, and goal-setting techniques. I'm so impressed with Dr. Gaudet's excellent coaching style, she makes it easy for me to ask questions, and she provides valuable feedback.

The coaching sessions are extremely helpful in keeping me focused on my dissertation

Topic! I've learned what articles are worth writing about in my dissertation and what articles are not!

Each one of Dr. Gaudet's fantastic coaching sessions will greatly benefit doctoral students in whatever phase of the dissertation writing journey they're in!

– Sandra Reddish, PhD Student

If it was possible to "clock out" from relationships and responsibilities while writing a dissertation, there would be no need for dissertation coaching. Because that isn't possible, Dissertation coaching with Dr. Cyndi Gaudet was vital for keeping me focused on my goal. The comraderie we all developed with one another provided an outlet to share frustrations and successes with people who could relate to the struggle. Dr. Gaudet starts every session with a check in from everyone to report what they have accomplished in the past week, and those gave me weekly accountability I knew I needed. And the more I progressed in completing my research, the more I felt celebrated. I literally have not done this alone, but in concert with my support group, the Dissertation coaching family!

– Dr. Jan Sims, Plumbline Solutions

A doctorate as a life goal can seem daunting for several reasons, two of which are it is uncharted territory we have to learn to navigate and the other is we let doubt enter our minds about our ability to achieve it. Mentoring from Dr. Gaudet solves these issues by breaking down the process into manageable components and by offering the academic feedback required to balance accountability for academic excellence with the support needed to reduce the doubt that students sometimes face. You can do this and there is no reason to struggle through what should be a fulfilling and meaningful experience.

She did these things for me - she will do them for you.

– Dr. Gary Burrus, , Executive Officer of HR, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

The dissertation coaching group with Dr. Gaudet has been transformational in my dissertation writing. It all starts with a shift in your mindset, and that is what Dr. Gaudet hones in on during your time with her. Not only is this group a sense of grounding in a whirlwind of emotions, but it also provides a sense of community, so you are always reminded you do not have to go through this alone. This coaching has helped me plan out my writing in chunks, given me tips to apply during my process, and encouraged me during a season of heartbreak. Even though I was not the most consistent in attending, Dr. Gaudet was always excited to see me and welcomed me with open arms (or an open screen). I would not have made it throughout this journey without attending her sessions and the valuable time I was able to spend with my classmates as we worked to achieve this great milestone only 1% of people complete.

–Paige Jones, PhD Student

The personalized approach, positive encouragement, and feedback are helping me as I navigate the dissertation process. Working with the dissertation group sessions has provided invaluable guidance and support that has significantly contributed to my success so far. Dr. Gaudet’s commitment and dedication to supporting my PhD program and to students' completion of our Ph.D. is what sets this program and Coach It Up apart from other programs. I appreciate you and what you do for us.

She did these things for me - she will do them for you.

–Terry Cullum, PhD Student

Completing a graduate dissertation is a challenge that demands serious support and guidance. Producing quality research and writing a scholarly work is not simple or intuitive for most. To increase the challenge of my dissertation journey, I changed jobs twice, changed my research topic five times, moved to Washington DC, and took a full 8 years to finish. I was successful in my quest due largely to the mentoring and guidance of Dr. Cyndi Gaudet who was the chair of both the HCD department at Southern Miss, and my dissertation committee. Dr. Gaudet was patient and insightful in her guidance, helping me through the process of refining my topic and developing my research methods. She was equally firm and uncompromising in her high expectations for my research. I am proud of my Doctoral studies, and I use some portion of what I learned every day in my volunteer work in youth development. Dr. Gaudet’s mentoring, instruction, motivation, and encouragement were invaluable to my success.

–Dr. Rick Walker, Youth Development Program Manager

I worked with faculty on research projects at other institutions prior to working with Dr. Gaudet. These previous experiences did not produce a finished product I could use to secure a full-time professor position in academia. However, my experience with Dr. Gaudet was quite different. First, Dr. Gaudet encouraged me to develop my own research ideas. Next, she was very structured in her approach to the dissertation process. I understood the requirements at each stage of the process. Dr. Gaudet also provided feedback in a timely manner. The timely feedback was instrumental in helping me make the necessary edits to produce a quality dissertation product. I would encourage other students that are looking to produce quality research to work with Dr. Gaudet on their dissertation journey.

–Dr. William Burge, Instructor, Business Management, OB/HR

The University of North Texas at Dallas

Your guidance and support was instrumental to my ability to complete my Ph.D. at a fast pace to meet career demands. I will always remember how your kind eyes that twinkle and that soft, gentle yet firm voice that helps me get through times when the process gets too overwhelming and unsurmountable. I will, forever, be grateful. One of the smartest decisions I made in life was making you my dissertation coach and mentor!!!

–Dr. Evelyn Green, Travels With Darley