Into the Unknown

An Autoethnography of an International Doctoral Student

Authors

  • Gabriela Mocanu Northern Arizona University

Abstract

This chapter is a personal narrative and reflection on personal experiences as an international doctoral student which highlights the author’s challenges in her journey. Reflecting on previous experiences teaching in international schools around the world, and her identity as an expatriate teacher, the author shares some of her experiences as an international doctoral student while highlighting the identity challenges she encountered at the beginning of her PhD program. Through personal stories, the author presents her experiences with feelings of belonging and the process of identity shift. This chapter provides insights into her identity journey and diversity as she experienced it.

Author Biography

  • Gabriela Mocanu, Northern Arizona University

    GABRIELA MOCANU is originally from Romania and is currently an Assistant Professor of Education at Upper Iowa University, USA. She had spent over ten years teaching internationally in different countries prior to pursuing her doctoral degree at Northern Arizona University. She is highly involved with the accreditation process of international schools and with accreditation of education preparation programs in the United States. Her research interests involve identity development, curriculum development and implementation, and school accreditation. Email: mocanug93@uiu.edu 

Published

2022-10-22

Issue

2023: International Graduate and Doctoral Student Experience: Navigating Relationships, Resources, and Resilience

Section

Navigating International Doctoral Student Experience

How to Cite

Into the Unknown: An Autoethnography of an International Doctoral Student. (2022). Book Series. https://ojed.org/gsm/article/view/4335