Imposter Syndrome and Degree Completion Among Marginalized Graduate Students
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Okera Nsombi
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
May 2025
End Date
May 2025
Location
PUB 321
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Interdisciplinary Studies
Abstract
Imposter Syndrome is a mindset that troubles many graduate students across various countries, degree programs, ethnicities, sexualities and genders. The term Imposter Syndrome refers to the feeling of being a fraud, despite achieving success and the persistent fear of being exposed as unqualified or undeserving. While this phenomenon affects many, it can appear much worse in marginalized populations, this is due to the lack of resources, support and representation of minorities in professional and higher education environments. This research focuses on marginalized graduate students and aims to figure out what key factors are leading to incomplete or delayed degree completion. Using a mixed-methods approach, including in-depth interviews and textual analysis, this study will examine how the onset of Imposter Syndrome impacts timely degree completion among marginalized graduate students. Though the study is still in progress, it is expected to reveal patterns in how Imposter Syndrome affects academic progression, which may help institutions develop targeted resources to support marginalized graduate students. Data analysis will identify patterns in academic progression, self-reported experiences, and institutional resources. By drawing perspectives from Education, Psychology, and Ethnic Studies, this study will provide an interdisciplinary understanding of academic performance, mental health, and systemic barriers in higher education. Findings from this study produced the key leading factors of Imposter Syndrome to be poor quality mentorship, unclear progress in research and/or degree completion, and perceived funding competition.
Recommended Citation
Finner, Ryan A., "Imposter Syndrome and Degree Completion Among Marginalized Graduate Students" (2025). 2025 Symposium. 12.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2025/op_2025/o3_2025/12
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Imposter Syndrome and Degree Completion Among Marginalized Graduate Students
PUB 321
Imposter Syndrome is a mindset that troubles many graduate students across various countries, degree programs, ethnicities, sexualities and genders. The term Imposter Syndrome refers to the feeling of being a fraud, despite achieving success and the persistent fear of being exposed as unqualified or undeserving. While this phenomenon affects many, it can appear much worse in marginalized populations, this is due to the lack of resources, support and representation of minorities in professional and higher education environments. This research focuses on marginalized graduate students and aims to figure out what key factors are leading to incomplete or delayed degree completion. Using a mixed-methods approach, including in-depth interviews and textual analysis, this study will examine how the onset of Imposter Syndrome impacts timely degree completion among marginalized graduate students. Though the study is still in progress, it is expected to reveal patterns in how Imposter Syndrome affects academic progression, which may help institutions develop targeted resources to support marginalized graduate students. Data analysis will identify patterns in academic progression, self-reported experiences, and institutional resources. By drawing perspectives from Education, Psychology, and Ethnic Studies, this study will provide an interdisciplinary understanding of academic performance, mental health, and systemic barriers in higher education. Findings from this study produced the key leading factors of Imposter Syndrome to be poor quality mentorship, unclear progress in research and/or degree completion, and perceived funding competition.
