Did You Know?

Limited access to culturally responsive resources hinders academic achievement and longterm outcomes among BIPOC students.

Our Solution

Through a decolonial and antiracist lens, we provide equity-driven and culturally sensitive programming, facilitation, strategy and coaching to K through University students, educators and education leaders.

Research & Strategy

  • Mixed-methods data collection
  • Strategic planning and visioning 
  • Landscape & root cause analysis 

Need immediate help thinking through a specific problem?

Coaching & Facilitation

  •  Professional accountability and support via 1:1 coaching
  • Community-building activities, events and retreats
  • Professional development workshops (students and educators)

Program Design & Curriculum Development

  • K-12 culturally responsive curriculum development
  • University-level curriculum evaluation and design 
  • Educator training program creation

Community Engagement & Narrative Building

  • Community engagement assessments 
  • Program evaluations
  • Organizational storytelling

The Results are REAL 

With absolutely no exaggeration, I can say that Jessica has changed my life. I spent way too long working on the dissertation, running in circles, not believing in myself, and not really sure about how to complete a dissertation.  Our time together wasn’t just about learning the hidden curriculum—it’s about aligning with the best version of myself to do *my* work. I have gone from resenting my dissertation to being excited about not only what I’m writing, but how I’m writing and how I’m replenishing myself in the process of writing. 
R. douglas
PhD Candidate
The month or so I spent working with Dr. Samuel exceeded my expectations. I've been in programs before that treated everyone as the same person. Dr. Samuel's approach was very personal to me and my situation. She worked with my whole self to tackle the lack of confidence and preparation that was holding me back. We worked through some blocks caused by poor thinking and even poorer self-talk, which freed up my thoughts to dream and plan for a successful business. I highly recommend her as a coach, even if someone has worked with a coach before--her approach is unique.
h. Bailey
Author & Entrepreneur
My consultation with Dr. Jessica Samuel was a transformative experience. Her insightful guidance not only provided crucial perspectives on my dissertation research but also served as a source of inspiration and empowerment. Dr. Samuel brought a unique blend of academic expertise and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by black women in academia, creating a space where my voice and research were truly valued. I highly recommend her services to fellow scholars seeking not only academic support but also an ally who understands the nuances of our shared journey in higher education.
E. Diaz
PHD Graduate

Our Flagship Pilot

#Read | #Watch | #Learn | #Improve

An integrated and authentic professional development program for underserved scholars

R.E.A.L. Graduate Student Fellowship

The R.E.A.L. Graduate Student Fellowship is our cohort-based, multi-curriculum fellowship program for historically underrepresented doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences. The program aims to positively impact the retention and completion rates among underserved graduate students by providing them with community, development, and the resources they need to thrive (not just survive) in graduate school.

Registration for our Fall 2025 pre-pilot is now closed.

More Love

"The ESD workshop on educational access for underserved students was truly impressive...affirming and insightful. [REAL] is deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, equity and academic excellence."

Rosemary Effiom,

Director, MMUF Program, Amherst College
I was really struggling in my graduate journey because of the pandemic and other life challenges. I knew my issue wasn't just getting words on the page. It was about core beliefs I had developed during my time in grad school. I had a few different options for coaching, but I can confidently say that Jessica provided a type of support that I wouldn't have been able to get anywhere else. Getting to work one-on-one with Jessica helped me overcome really crippling imposter syndrome and really accelerated my dissertation progress. Jessica is precise and deeply perceptive--things I'd been struggling with for years were resolved within a matter of weeks of coaching. I can confidently say that I'm on track to finishing my program, and I definitely owe it to dissertation coaching with Jessica. There are a lot of coaching services out there, but working with Jessica is absolutely worth the investment.
Glenesha B.
PHD Candidate
"Dr. Samuel and I collaborated to develop a life skills curriculum for a state-wide juvenile justice agency. Dr. Samuel reviewed and wrote a curriculum that was culturally responsive for the youth population. She successfully worked to enhance existing drafts of the curriculum to elevate the sensitivity and cultural humility needed to teach young men of color involved in the juvenile justice system. Dr. Samuel asks targeted questions to improve the project plan and works efficiently to complete tasks. I would definitely work with Dr. Samuel again."
 Charline Alexandre-Joseph,
Director for Workforce Development, MENTOR
"Overall, it was nice to back up from our niche research topics and think about the larger picture of why we do the work we do. It was also refreshing to think about the ethics of doing research and how we can leverage what we do have to help those communities most important to us."
MMUF Student, 
Amherst College
"The Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) is proud to count Dr. Jessica Shamida Samuel among its esteemed and accomplished alumni who have come back to serve in various capacities since graduating from our program. In the spirit of paying it forward to future generations of scholars and educators, Dr. Samuel has returned to IRT in order to lead workshops around holistic wellness for BIPOC students and sit on alumni panels where she discusses what it means to be successful in graduate school. We enthusiastically anticipate more contributions to the IRT curriculum, pedagogy, and media spaces from her in years to come!."
Brittany Zorn, 
Arts & Sciences Program Specialist, IRT

"The month or so I spent working with Dr. Samuel exceeded my expectations. I've been in programs before that treated everyone as the same person. Dr. Samuel's approach was very personal to me and my situation. She worked with my whole self to tackle the lack of confidence and preparation that was holding me back. We broke down elements into doable tasks, but not just doable tasks, also doable mind shifts. We worked through some blocks caused by poor thinking and even poorer self-talk, which freed up my thoughts to dream and plan for a successful business. I highly recommend her as a coach, even if someone has worked with a coach before--her approach is unique and focuses on the individual. "

Helen Bailey
Author, Activist & Business Owner

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