[Alena] I successfully passed my PhD dissertation defense! I’m the first African American person in history to receive a PhD in the field of Survey Methodology (Specifically I'm a Survey Statistician). That also means I’m currently the only Black person to hold a PhD in this degree. My dream was to inspire other Black girls and women to achieve the highest education they could in their field. To reach higher. Never did I think my love of Math and Health would lead me to being a “first” in Black