Transcript 03

Doctoral Program Experience Interview

Cleaned Transcript for Research Team Analysis

Interview Metadata
Participant ID: P03
Interview Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Duration: 15:38
Program: DLP, Northeastern University
Transcription tool: [Link] (auto-generated, cleaned by researcher)

Cleaning Notes
This transcript has been de-identified for use by the research team. The following conventions were
applied:
• Personal names (participant, peers, faculty) have been replaced with bracketed role descriptors.
• Specific institutional affiliations that could identify the participant (employer, alma mater,
secondary teaching position) have been replaced with generic descriptors.
• DLP and Northeastern are retained, as they identify the program/institution under study and are
known to all research-team readers.
• [Link] briefly mis-attributed several single-word fragments to "Speaker 3," "Speaker 4," and
"Speaker 5." Based on context, these fragments belong to the surrounding speaker's continuous
utterance and have been merged accordingly.
• Each numbered line is one sentence or short clause to support citation during coding (e.g., "see
lines 45–50").

Redaction Key
Placeholder in transcript Refers to
[Participant] the interviewee
[Interviewer] the researcher conducting this interview
[States full name] audible name statement (redacted)
[VP-level role in resident participant's job title at primary employer
services]
[a regional public housing participant's primary employer
authority]
[a non-traditional university] institution where participant also teaches
[my alma mater] participant's previous degree-granting institution
[Professor] faculty member teaching a current course
[the Program Director] faculty member referenced re: cohort selection
[a peer] another student in the DLP program

Transcript
Line Speaker / Transcript
Time
1 Interviewer Thank you for speaking with me today, [Participant].
00:00

2 My name is Sammijo Johnson.

3 I'm a doctoral student in the DLP program at Northeastern.
4 I'm conducting a qualitative study on why students choose to pursue
the professional doctorate or a professional doctorate, and how they
experience growth and challenge along the way.
5 This conversation will take about 30 minutes.
6 With your permission, I'll record, so I can transcribe accurately.
7 The recording is used only for that purpose.
8 Your participation is entirely voluntary.
9 Can you say your full name? I messed up that part.
10 Participant [States full name].
00:38

11 Interviewer Thank you. Your name won't appear in any written materials, and you
00:40 can stop at any time.
12 Any questions before we begin?
13 No. Okay. Perfect.
14 Thank you so much, and I genuinely appreciate your time and
openness.
15 Okay. Shall we, uh, can you walk me through what were your, what
you were doing professionally and personally, in the year or two
before you apply to the DLP.
16 Participant Sure, I was in my current position as the [VP-level role in resident
01:04 services] at [a regional public housing authority],
17 but in the last year I um did get injured.
18 I play tennis a lot, and so I like every day, sometimes more than once
a day, so it was a big part of my life.
19 And I got injured, so I had to take nine months off, so I had a lot of
time on my hands,
20 and I'd been thinking about going back to school for quite a while,
Line Speaker / Transcript
Time
21 and so all of a sudden I had all this time on my hands,
22 and I, in I don't know what quarter, anyway, I started teaching with a
university called [a non-traditional university],
23 and so that was for students who have had significant barriers to
accessing higher education,
24 and they're working full time, taking nine credits at a time.
25 Super inspiring folks, and I thought these students are doing it,
26 and they have all this stuff going on in their lives, so there's really no
excuses for me not to go back to school.
27 So I would say, like, getting injured, starting a new job, an additional
job,
28 and then in my full-time role I was also very comfortable and feeling a
bit like I was coasting at great people,
29 and I had applied for another job, hadn't gotten it,
30 and so it was like, okay, I'm not gonna leave my current job, but I'm
also very comfortable,
31 so maybe I should do something to challenge myself.
32 Interviewer That makes sense.
02:44

33 And you kind of started to walk me through the decision making

process that led you to enroll,
34 but what were the key moments or turning points that pushed you to,
you know, decide this is the time?
35 Participant Yeah, yeah, I do think because tennis was such a big part of my life,
03:00

36 not playing for nine months really gave me perspective where I

actually didn't miss it as much as I thought I would,
37 and so diversifying things in my life was a good thing.
38 Interviewer Did anyone specifically influence your decision.
03:18

39 Participant No, I wouldn't say anyone specifically, but my cohort that I teach are
03:22 just super motivating people.
40 I will say it was, I'd been looking at law school,
41 and to me, I really enjoy having and benefit from having in person
contact with folks,
42 and so I was looking for a part-time program that had in person
Line Speaker / Transcript
Time
contact, and I couldn't find many of them,
43 but I'd known people who went to [my alma mater],
44 and had been in conversation with advisors from that school,
45 and just realize it's very much about teaching to the test and passing
the bar,
46 like I don't know that I actually want to sit for the bar or practice law,
47 so why would I spend time and money on a curriculum that's
designed to just pass the bar?
48 So once I started researching programs again, I don't remember how
I found this program,
49 but the curriculum really resonated with me.
50 Interviewer Okay, and that just pivots into our next question of how did you come
04:23 to choose a DLP specifically,
51 and what did you hope it would give you that your existing credentials
or experience could not?
52 Participant Yeah, for me,
04:36

53 I think it was more of an intrinsic desire to continue learning.

54 I really enjoyed formal education. I enjoyed my time in graduate
school,
55 and I wasn't necessarily looking to add to my credentials,
56 but I do interact with a lot quite a bit in my current job,
57 and so I thought it could help me do better in my current position,
58 and then also if I wanted to stay in the public housing authority
industry, that could help me as well,
59 Interviewer and you did touch upon what other programs you considered,
05:14

60 which you did speak about the JD and deciding between the DLP and
the JD,
61 and other than specific to wanting to go into law, but more with a
policy focus.
62 What are the motivations that were there?
63 Any, any outside of professional motivations, were there any personal
motivations?
64 Participant Yes, I think you know, I, so my father passed away last January,
05:43
Line Speaker / Transcript
Time
65 and so I haven't really thought about this, but he, you know, also had
multiple graduate degrees,
66 and I think he would have loved me going back to school.
67 I've talked about it for like 10 years,
68 so no, I think about it, that probably was a motivation that I hadn't
really articulated before.
69 But I also hadn't really thought about this, but I think it was a big blow
to my ego not to get that job that I applied for.
70 I thought I had it in the bag, to be honest.
71 My boyfriend was like, you're so cocky, like, what? I was qualified, I
should have
72 Interviewer gotten, you know, what you have, you knew you were qualified
06:23

73 Participant but I didn't get it, and so I was kind of like, maybe I was like, I needed
06:26 to prove it to myself
74 or prove something to myself.
75 Interviewer No, I think we, we all consider that when we're pursuing, especially
06:33 the highest level of doctoral level degree,
76 you, you feel like you have something to prove. I feel like that too.
77 Can you describe a moment or period in the program since you've
started where you felt you had genuinely grown intellectually,
professionally, or personally?
78 Participant Yes, I do actually benefit a lot from the discussion posts.
06:54

79 I'm really enjoying [Professor]'s class.

80 I think I learn a lot from you, like the first post I saw on all your
references,
81 like, oh, is this serious? I gotta learn how to relearn how to do APA
style referencing,
82 and, but I don't, I mean, I'm a total newbie to the law, and so I'm
learning a ton,
83 and I enjoy the ability to think of it through a lens in a specific topic,
84 so yeah, I would say the the discussion posts,
85 Interviewer yeah,
07:28

86 Participant and also like the first intensive, where it's this incredible diverse group
Line Speaker / Transcript
Time
07:29 of people,
87 Interviewer absolutely,
07:34

88 Participant the like, I don't, I don't know a lot of people that work in it, and
07:34 certainly not in the AI field,
89 Interviewer a lot of varied backgrounds,
07:42

90 Participant yeah, yeah, which seems intentional,

07:44

91 and I appreciate about [the Program Director]'s, you know, selection

process,
92 and so I think that sense of community,
93 Interviewer yes,
07:54

94 Participant came out in my lit review for the motivations,

07:55

95 and that to me, I think has been missing,

96 like my boyfriend is certainly he'll, he's just like this sounds so boring,
they're like,
97 but it's really interesting, I think it's, and I want to talk to people about
what I'm reading,
98 and people at my work have a lot of them have just been there for
like 40 years,
99 and it was kind of status quo, and I'm like, we are perpetuating
poverty people, like, come on,
100 what are we doing,
101 and so it's kind of not necessarily like-minded, but I guess people
who can have a conversation with,
102 but also have an academic lens, and then also understand like the
implications. Anyway,
103 Interviewer so would you say it's like a safe space where you can be able to, you
08:36 know, probe those topics that maybe externally would be frowned
upon if you were to ask someone you know what their views are,
104 whereas in this academic space we're all coming from varied
backgrounds, we all have specific opinions,
105 but those, you know, those opinions are, I guess, centered with, you
know, case cases and empirical research and whatnot.
Line Speaker / Transcript
Time
106 So, do you feel like it's a safe space to be able to have those
conversations here?
107 Participant I think it depends on the topic.
09:11

108 Like, I do feel like I'm kind of intimidated because there are so many
people in our, like, you have a JD, [a peer] has a JD,
109 like most people have, like, multiple degrees in this program,
110 so sometimes I'm like, I don't ask a stupid question, or
111 Interviewer there's any question. I feel like I love when questions are asked,
09:28

112 and I love.. I said it to you yesterday that I love that you always
enhance and expand conversations.
113 How do you feel to be one of the people that actually drives the
conversation forward?
114 Participant Yeah, thank you for that.
09:47

115 I think part of that's because it's easier for me to react to something
somebody has already said,
116 rather than having to generate my own opinion,
117 like I'm that person, I always wait, and then, like, okay, I can interact
with what this person is saying,
118 but I'm very much intimidated to be the first person to put myself.
119 Interviewer It doesn't come off that it doesn't come off this island.
10:05

120 I look, I'm like [Participant] is getting in there.

121 I love the questions you ask. I love that you continue the
conversation.
122 That's the point of the discussion boards, right?
123 Participant Yes, I totally agree.
10:15

124 And I actually, I think I can, or had said this, but I try to look for
people who haven't had people respond,
125 because I never want to be that person that's like left out from being
chosen for kickball,
126 whatever.
127 Interviewer Absolutely, and, and doctoral programs can ask a lot of people, you
10:31 know,
Line Speaker / Transcript
Time
128 where have you felt the pull most strongly while in the DLP, right?
right between work
129 and you do really awesome work, you do very important work.
130 So, how do you manage the work that you do, and plus the demand
of the program?
131 Participant You know, I think being in school and then teaching, actually works
10:57 really well,
132 because, like, my students will take a research methods course, and
then I'm in research methods,
133 so it's certainly a time constraint.
134 I also help take care of my mom, like I'm her, she's 84
135 so I think, honestly, that's the one, like, I feel a lot of guilt that I
haven't seen her this weekend,
136 and so I'm taking Monday off from work to go take her to Trader
Joe's, and that went to lunch.
137 So I think really it's a guilt with just not having my weekends as most,
138 I'm just not as valuable for my mother as much as I would like to be,
139 Interviewer and then coming off of that, that answer, so we stay on that topic,
11:38

140 has there been moments where you've questioned wanting to

continue in the program because of the things that you may have to
change or give up?
141 Not, I wouldn't say give up, I don't think we're giving up anything,
142 I think we're just putting focus more on specific things, whereas
before we have more time, what would you do?
143 You feel that you've had to change how you operate, if that makes
sense.
144 Participant Yes, definitely.
12:11

145 Think with spending time on the weekends with my mom, I've
changed just for getting homework done,
146 or assignments, or being here for the intensive.
147 Yeah, I don't feel like I'm giving up.
148 I'm just having to, like, used to read all the time, and I'm not reading
for fun anymore.
149 But I'm still intellectually stimulated and engaged in something,
Line Speaker / Transcript
Time
150 so it's.. it's.. it's like a.. I don't feel like I'm giving anything up.
151 It's just trading or replacing one thing with another,
152 Interviewer and I agree, I agree with that, with, with, with that answer.
12:43

153 I love people tend to feel like they're giving something up, and I feel
like you're just smoothing things around, right?
154 And this question here, I know to kind of close it, close us out,
155 if you had to tell the story of your DLP experience, [Participant], so far
in a few sentences, how would you tell it?
156 Participant This is extreme. I hate this question, but I actually have an answer for
13:10 it.
157 I was so my friends were asking me to play tennis on a Sunday,
158 and I was like, I can't because I have class,
159 but I'm also going to get drinks with [a peer] and other people,
160 but they're like, what are you doing, and like, well, this is the program,
and blah blah blah,
161 and I said, I think I'm a either a masochist or going through a midlife
crisis, or both,
162 so maybe it would be like the masochist midlife crisis,
163 but I don't really actually believe either of those,
164 but it's more reacting to other people being like, what the fuck, this is
fun to me.
165 I don't know,
166 Interviewer I think so too.
13:51

167 Participant Maybe this is fun to me.

13:52

168 Interviewer I actually align with what you stated about masochist.
13:54

169 It's almost like you're putting yourself.. a lot of people would look at it
like that.
170 I could never do a doctorate, but in your own words, it's fun, right?
171 And knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself a
week before starting the program if you could go back?
172 Participant I probably.. I only started with one class, I would have taken two.
14:14
 Line Speaker / Transcript
Time
173 I think I would have just said to be more confident and trust my own
abilities,
174 and just start with two, so I could,
175 and I guess maybe do it sooner.
176 I don't know, I wish I had started sooner, so I could be in the same
fall cohort with everyone else.
177 Interviewer That makes sense. Do it
14:33

178 Participant sooner, and do it more.

14:35

179 Interviewer And is there anything about your experience, motivation, your growth,
14:37 or challenges you faced that we didn't cover that you'd like to share?
180 Participant No.
14:48

181 Interviewer No. Is there any question you expected me to ask that I didn't?
14:48

182 No. I know I pivoted on some because I felt like some, you know,
based off your answers, I feel like, you know.
183 Again, thank you so much for your time and openness.
184 I'll have the recording transcribed and may follow up with a brief
summary of themes to confirm if I accurately, if it accurately reflects
what you shared.
185 This is called member checking, and this is an important part of the
research.
186 Again, your name won't appear in any written materials, then please
don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
187 Participant Great, thank you. Perfect.
15:25

188 I wonder if that term, member checking, is accurate. (laughs)

189 That was great

Total lines: 189. End of transcript.