Mentoring — The Road to Success for Ph.D.s

By Lisa Gregory

Under the mentorship of Cheryl Miller, associate professor of policy sciences, Kenya Cox, Ph.D., policy sciences '03, examined access to childcare and its impact on labor force participation of mothers with preschoolers in her doctoral dissertation. Today, Cox continues that important research as a resident scholar with the National Urban League's (NUL) Institute for Opportunity and Equality, where she focuses on issues of critical importance to the African-American community and the nation as a whole.

Cox is quick to acknowledge the important role that her mentor played in her graduate studies at UMBC. "Under her guidance I learned first hand how to prepare, execute data analysis, write and package an article for peer-reviewed journals," Cox says. "Moreover, Dr. Miller served as my dissertation committee chairperson. In this role she continued her forthright mentoring forcing me to produce my best work."

According to Miller, Cox came to the Ph.D. program at UMBC a somewhat seasoned professional. Besides having a master's in urban planning and another in applied sociology as well as a bachelor's in sociology, Cox had legitimate research experience. She had been a research scientist for the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation's Public Services Research Institute, where she managed a $100,000 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grant. Before that she was a social scientist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Institute of Water Resources Program Analysis Division, researching and evaluating safety at Corps recreational parks.

Cox's research on childcare, which landed her the job at NUL, used 2000 census data, childcare provider data and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and found that mothers residing in counties that are more urbanized and impoverished have a greater problem accessing childcare.

"There's a great imbalance in terms of supply and demand," says Cox. "There's not as much to childcare to choose from close to home. That translates into greater commute costs. Poor folks are less likely to own cars and more likely to utilize public transportation. If your childcare is across town from your job, then you are going to have a substantial increase in your commuting costs. Eventually that could cause you to leave the labor market."

Since joining the National Urban League, in addition to her research on child care, Cox has co-authored two research projects, the first on the negative effects of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) on the college enrollment of welfare recipients and the second on the differences in TANF support service utilization by current and former welfare recipients. Both projects resulted in NUL special research reports.

What makes Cox's job at NUL the most rewarding is that the work does not stop with the findings. "I'm spending a lot more time on Capitol Hill," she says. "I'm working with legislators as an advocate based on my research."

Miller for one is eager to see what the future holds for Cox. "Kenya has tremendous potential," says Miller, who has nominated her dissertation for a national award.

Likewise, Cox has nominated Miller for a national teaching award. "I attended three schools before coming to UMBC and in all my graduate experiences, I never found a mentor who has had such a positive impact on my life. Not until I met Dr. Miller."

Recently, the two presented papers at the same conference although on different days. And for Cox, old habits die hard. "When I seek her out and introduce her I still say this is my mentor. But she corrects me. She says, 'No I'm your colleague.'"