Devon Lockard

Ph.D., Education

Hometown:

Topeka, Kansas

What is your research area?

Education Policy, specifically Access, Retention, and Success of Underrepresented Populations in Higher Education

What is something cool about your field?

Changing policy to the benefit of low-income and/or first-generation students is cool enough by itself!

What is the best thing you’ve done as a graduate student at SMU so far?

Write with my advisor. Dr. Dominique Baker is a fantastic scholar and academic who has helped me tremendously to develop in the field.

What is your favorite thing to do in Dallas?

I have previous experiences in bartending, so frequenting the large amount of options for great bars and listening to good music makes Dallas an awesome place to live!

What do you wish you’d known before starting graduate schools?

I wish I was better prepared to write academically. Methods and content has not been difficult to pick up, but setting enough time out to write and improve on my writing has been difficult.

What is your favorite leisure activity?

I am a huge Kansas City Chiefs and Royals fan, plus I am a Wichita State University and University of Oklahoma alumni, so I watch a lot of sports.