DOCTORAL STUDENTS
From Stuck to Submitted:
Dissertation Support for Doctoral Students
I help ABD doctoral students break through the structural, technical and psychological barriers holding them back from degree completion.
Rhiannon Maton, Ph.D.
TENURED PROFESSOR | UPENN PhD | 25+ PUBLICATIONS
Consulting for the Doctorate
Many doctoral students get stalled during the dissertation stage. This struggle typically does not stem from a lack of ability or commitment, but rather from exposure to a new genre that their graduate program did not teach directly.
In order to move forward with confidence, most could use direct instruction in understanding how arguments move across chapters, what a literature review is intended to achieve, and what to do in order to meet the committee's expectations — including when those expectations are complex, opaque, or misaligned across committee members.
My consulting work with ABD doctoral students first involves one-on-one work to figure out the nature of the block — whether students are stalled due to structural issues, process-related challenges, or dynamics embedded in the advising relationship. Next, we develop a concrete, realistic plan for moving forward.
My approach is grounded in my own work as a tenured professor at a U.S. university with an Ivy League Ph.D. and 25 peer-reviewed publications. I have successfully navigated this system, know from insider experience what the dissertation requires, and can help writers build the knowledge and process they need to finish.
Core Services
I can assist you with all stages of the thesis or dissertation, including the proposal, research design and analysis, and writing processes (e.g., outlining, writing, editing, and time management).
Testimonials
"[Rhiannon] has a remarkable ability to demystify academic writing. When writer's block or overwhelm struck, her concrete advice and unwavering encouragement were exactly what I needed to keep going."
Deborah M.K. Stanbury, M.Div, Th.M.
Completed Master of Divinity (M.Div.) at University of Toronto
"Rhiannon helped me design [dissertation] chapters that incorporated my ideas clearly and coherently, and reflected a better organization in my writing with the reader in mind. She also consistently provided me with moral support to help me move forward when I felt stuck."
Monica Lynette Benton Palmer, Ed.D.
Completed Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) at University of Pennsylvania