ABOUT DIVAS
What is DIVAS?
DIVAS-Distinguished, Intellectual, Virtuous, Academic, Sistas-was formed in 2009 as a collective to address the unique concerns and perspectives facing Black Female PhD students at a public higher education institution in the southeastern United States. The DIVAS collective has allowed Black women doctoral students and new professionals to “stand in the gap” and become the "othermother" (Guiffrida, 2005) for Black women during their PhD process.
HISTORY
DIVAS, Distinguished, Intellectual, Virtuous, Academic Sistas, are a group of Black women academics whose mission and purpose is to encourage a sisterhood of support for Black Ph.D. students and new professionals. DIVAS was formed in 2009 as a collective to address the unique concerns and perspectives facing Black female Ph.D. students at a public higher education institution in the Southeastern United States. The DIVAS collective has allowed Black women doctoral students and now new professionals to “stand in the gap” and become the othermother (Guiffida, 2005). We were founded with a passion to ensure that “not one would be lost”.
As DIVAS we understand that the experiences of Black women in academia are very complex and nuanced. As such, our mission is to empower Black women in the academy by providing mentoring as well as academic and research support to enhance scholarship and community involvement. DIVAS are committed to civic engagement. We believe that service to one's community is an essential characteristic of social uplift. DIVAS include current doctoral students and faculty who are employed in over five institutions of higher education in North Carolina, South Carolina, North Dakota, and Florida.