The story behind the PhD

Megan Fisk

2015

Communication

Arizona State University

"Only from the heart can you touch the sky." - Rumi

The Academic Journey

The story behind the cap and gown

Slideshow

Images of the memorable moments

My ASU journey

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In the parking lot before new student orientation in 2007 when I transferred to ASU.

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Sliding into home plate during a kick ball game of Speech vs Debate. (2007)

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My favorite suit from my Speech and Debate days.

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The annual Speech and Debate showcase at the Empty Space Theatre. Thomas and I were the bouncers.

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Getting ready to go out on Mill Ave!

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May 2009- Working my first job at ASU as a student worker at the Beyond Center.

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Paul Davies is the Director of the Beyond Center. He's a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, astrobiologist and best-selling science author. I spent 100s of hours with him and his wife Pauline and they have had a profound influence on my life to this day.

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My was also a writing tutor. (2008)

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Debating a point at a speech and debate conference. I think I'm winning?!

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In 2010, I graduated with two Bachelors degrees. One in Communication and one in Political Science.

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My mom, me, my aunt Jodie, and my aunt Cassie.

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Graduation headshot!

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First day as graduate students!!

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My cat Ravenclaw and I spent lots of hours together studying my first two years.

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First year of Graduate School! Four Peaks has the best nachos and ciders after a 3-hour long class. 2011

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Really, Ravenclaw and I spent lots of evenings like this.

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One of my classes after their final simulation. I taught National Security and Counterterrorism. The final project was to participate as the White House during a terrorist attack and decide what strategic communication should be shared with the public.

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I taught lots of classes while I was a graduate student, but my favorite has always been Public Speaking.

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Entering my second year of graduate school! 2012.

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Student Government 2011. I was the PR and outreach director.

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Student government 2013. I was the Vice President of Professional Development.

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Getting ready for Homecoming 2013!

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At Northern Arizona University for the Western States Student Government meeting.

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With ASU student government leaders after a debate for some statewide political office that I don't remember. Brene (tan suit) and I helped organize it as VPs of student government in 2012-ish.

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Doing a service project with my department.

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With now US Senator Kyrsten Sinema. I organized a chat with her and student leaders in 2013-ish.

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Devils in Disguise! An annual service event organized by Changemaker Central. 2012

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Campaign picture- Vote Fisk 2012!

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I WON!

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The fearless student government president with her trusted advisors.

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We had a lot of plans for the year!

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With the undergraduate student government presidents and ASU's University President Michael Crow, 2012.

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I gave speeches to rooms like this every week.

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With my vice president of professional development at the first event we organized during my presidency in 2013.

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Working with the state-wide student organizations on a lobbying strategy.

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At a National Student Government Meeting .

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We won a Pitchfork award!

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Walk through of the new student recreation center in 2013.

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Trying to work with the Arizona Legislature

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Lobbying for affordable education in DC. 2013.

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Things weren't always sunshine and rainbows. One of my fellow student government leaders drew this caricature of me during a particularly intense meeting.

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Taking to the streets when a deal couldn't be reached.

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Presenting awards at the end of my presidency. Kim is an amazing social worker in Arizona now. 2014

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With the four undergraduate student government presidents.

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Celebrating finishing my year as president with friends and starting the last year of my PhD!

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In the midst of student government, I was still a student and doing research in my field.

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My mom made a quilt out of all my t-shirts for Christmas for me.

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2014-2015 Academic Year. I have few pictures, but most of it was spent with my best friend Tara and I writing research.

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And going out with friends 2014.

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And skydiving on New Years Day 2015.

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Back to work researching!

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Lots of late nights were spent at Club Hayden (aka the library) in 2015.

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Finally the day came to defend my dissertation research.

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With my friends after passing my defense.

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With my Dissertation committee after passing my defense.

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I was chosen to carry in the college flag for graduation.

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GRADUATION DAY! 2015

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The day my actual diploma came in the mail, I sat in my office and cried for 30 minutes. It was the piece of paper in the mail that made it finally seem completed.

Stories

Stories of the graduate

The Story Begins

The Story Begins

Enable Student Success

Speech and Debate

Speech and Debate

Transform Society

Grad School Year 1 & 2

Grad School Year 1 & 2

Fuse Intellectual Disciplines

Student Government President

Student Government President

Leverage Our Place

Lobbying in D.C.

Lobbying in D.C.

Engage Globally

Athletic Fee

Athletic Fee

Value Entrepreneurship

Devils in Disguise

Devils in Disguise

Be Socially Embedded

Graduation Day!

Graduation Day!

Conduct Use-Inspired Research

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