Meet Susan Ziki, a University Fellowship recipient. Susan is a Ph.D. student studying History.
Please give a short overview of your research:
My dissertation analyzes African market women’s activities in Zimbabwe through their intimate connections, emotions, and mobilities from 1980 to 2020. It evaluates the significant role these variables have in sustaining women’s livelihoods in the informal markets. Using life histories of market women, I explore how their varying degrees of success and failures in the market, or in sustaining livelihoods, are connected to their intimate ties, personal relations, and mobilities. Overall, this research captures women’s perceptions and conceptions of their everyday life and activities, and it contributes to an understanding of market women’s conditions and their long-term successes in protecting their roles in an economy that is generally discouraging women's entrepreneurship.
What made you choose to pursue your graduate degree here at Kent State?
Kent State’s graduate degrees offer multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary experiences that are critical for professional development. Kent State’s History Department Faculty are accessible to graduate students and are ready to listen and engage in conversations with graduate students as colleagues. I chose Kent State because I specifically wanted to be advised by Professor Timothy Scarnecchia, a specialist in African political, gender, and urban history. I also chose Kent State because it offers opportunities to fund graduate students for their studies and opportunities to teach classes independently. Above all, Kent State is home to international students.
What do you enjoy most about attending Kent State for graduate school?
I enjoy engaging in meaningful conversations and sharing ideas with diverse graduate students with different interests and different backgrounds. Sharing an office with my graduate colleagues has been one of the best experiences. The graduate students and professors transform the workspace into one of the best supportive work environments that helps you navigate the history profession and your personal obligations.
What are your future goals?
My goal is to develop a profession in research and teaching. So, ideally, I aim to work at a tertiary institution that will help me continue with research while I can also pursue my passion for teaching. Kent State University has significantly advanced my experiences in research and teaching. In addition to my career goals, I am committed to connecting my research on modernization of African markets in order to help transform women and the girl child’s lives in developing countries.
What does this award mean to you and how will it aid you?
It is a great honor to receive this award. I appreciate Kent State’s confidence in my work, and this gives me encouragement to believe in myself more. This award is a milestone in my academic career because I will now have more time to do my research and write my dissertation to graduate on schedule while not having to be concerned about financial problems.