What does an average day look like for Ph.D candidate, and what do they do in their free time? Do they even have free time when there’s so much research to be done? Let’s chat with Akintomide Adeloye to find out!
Akintomide Adeloye is a Doctoral Student at Morgan State University. He currently works at James E. Lewis Museum of Art in Baltimore. He is digitizing the museum collection to make it accessible online. This is a glimpse of HIS-STORY.
Let me first say; it’s an honor to be featured on your blog.
My name is Akintomide Adeloye; I’m a doctoral student at Morgan State University. I grew up in an environment where everybody is involved in academics in one way or the other. My Grandparents and Uncles are all into academics, so it is only natural to follow in my family's footsteps because that is what I have always known. My love for history started at a very early age, thanks to my grandfather, who always entertain us with ancient histories and stories under the moonlight every evening in our family compound. It was something I always look forward to, and it was always the highlight of my day growing up. I love my grandpa so much that I wanted to be like him, hence my interest in history.My Ph.D. research is on Africa pre-colonial History. The reason for this research is to reconstruct some of the narratives about Africa and African before the advent of the Europeans.
Ok, so I can tell you love history, but if there was any other field you could work in, what would it be and why?
If there is any other field I could work in, it will be in International Relations. I would love to be a Diplomat. Diplomats are not subjected to their host country's law, meaning they can pretty much do anything and get away with it…Diplomats are immune from prosecution or arrest in their host country. Is that not what we all want? The ability to be able to do what we want without getting prosecuted…lol
Typically, I wake up around 6:30 am, do some class readings, and attend to work emails. I work between 8 am till 12 pm. Get some food, then head to the library to do some reading and research from 1 pm to 4 pm. The class starts at 4:30 pm and ends by 7:30 pm. Research prep starts around 9 pm till 1 or 2 am, depending on what I’m working on for that day.
When I’m not doing research, I either watch movies or play FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association). I rarely play them these days because there is just so much school work to do.
If there was one thing you could change in the academic world, what would it be? (Is there something you want to see more of in the academic world?)
If there’s one thing I could change in the academic world, it would be to increase diversity awareness and foster inclusion in higher education. It is highly imperative for everyone to be knowledgeable about the impact of inclusion and diversity in the academic world. When I talk about diversity, it goes beyond just students of color. It encompasses being aware of all the systems of oppressions such as; racism, ableism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, amongst many others. I cannot over emphasize how really important it is for people to not just learn, but to also make a conscious effort to treat everyone right irrespective of their race, ethnicity, social status, gender, and religion. We are all HUMAN first before any of these oppressions.
- Akintomide Adeloye
Akintomide currently holds a B.A. in History and International relations, a M.A. in History and is a History Doctoral Student at Morgan State University. You can learn more about his research and work on LinkedIn!
Rise by lifting others.
Leave a comment