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Your Reliable Thesis and Dissertation Partner

About Us

The Dissertation Diva is a thesis and dissertation coaching service located in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The company owner, M. Francine Jennings, aka Dr. J, started the business more than 15  years ago when she became an adjunct professor for a doctoral program at a local university. Over time, the university recognized her talent for providing strategies that assisted students encountering specific kinds of writing issues. Since then, she has supervised myriad thesis projects and chaired numerous dissertation committees for various institutions!

M. Francine Jennings, Ed. D. – Professional Overview

Educational Background

  • Doctorate of Education, Educational Leadership and Administration, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VA Tech), Blacksburg, VA
  • Educational Specialist, Educational Leadership and Administration, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VA Tech), Blacksburg, VA
  • Masters of Education, Special Education (Emphasis on Emotional Disorders), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
  • Bachelor of Arts, French, Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA

Current/Recent Positions

  • National Faculty, Lesley University, Master’s Program, School of Graduate Education, Division of Creative Arts in Learning
  • Senior Advisor, Lesley University, Doctoral Program, Educational Leadership, Individually Designed, Adult Development and Learning, School of Graduate Education
  • Dissertation Mentor/Chair, Capella University, Doctoral Program, Educational Leadership and Management Concentration

Highlights of Qualifications (Research-Related)

  • Over 15 years of coaching theses and dissertations as committee member and/or chair
  • Over 20 years of on-line teaching, advising, and coaching
  • Over 20 years of higher education teaching and advising
  • 7 years as supervisor of action research projects
  • Certified in IRB Human Subjects Research through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)

Courses Taught Specific to Research

  • Qualitative Research
  • Introduction to Doctoral Study
  • Writing for Research
  • Critical Analysis of Contemporary Educational Issues
  • Dissertation Supervision

  • Critical Action Research

  • Research in Action

Services Offered (A La Carte or Via Retainer) 

  • Unlimited accessibility via personal visits, email, text, phone, ZOOM, and other appropriate platforms
  • Coaching around research readiness (may include client’s personal situation, background, strengths/challenges, institutional requirements, etc.)
  • Assistance with time management, problem-solving, and decision-making
  • Assistance with pre-thesis and pre-dissertation course assignments
  • Assistance with idea conceptualization and organization for each section of the master's/dissertationproposal and/or thesis/dissertation (4 or 5 chapter dissertations, capstone projects, action research, other non-traditional doctoral formats) including cover page, reference page, figures, tables, and appendices
  • Assistance with literary standards, grammar, punctuation, sentence construction, and soft editing (NOTE: Our services should not be considered comparable to the role of a professional editor. We recommend that you engage the services of a professional editor before your final product is published).
  • Assistance with APA formatting
  • Assistance with conflicts that may impact the completion of your document
  • Assistance with interpreting dissertation chair and/or committee comments, requests, opinions
  • Assistance with strategic approaches for administrative matters
  • Eligibility for dissertation/scholarly writing workshops and intensive residencies upon request

Prices

Fees for Dissertation Services

  • Initial consultation is free (up to one hour).

  • Hourly fees apply to a la carte services at a rate of $100 per hour (payment plans available).
  • A one-time retainer fee of $500 (can be broken into 2 payments) is required for long-term assignments (4 months or more).
  • A one-time retainer fee of $250 (can be broken into 2 payments) is required for short-term assignments (2-3 months).
  • A monthly fee of $150 (can be broken into 2 payments) is required for all short-term and long-term assignments.
  • Payments may be made via Paypal (404-983-5663 or msedutainer@gmail.com, Cashapp ($msedutainer), Zelle (404-983-5663 or msedutainer@gmail.com).

  • Receipts will be sent out electronically to acknowledge payments.

  • After an initial consultation has been completed and a decision has been made about services between the client and The Dissertation Diva, a contract will be sent out to be signed by both parties.

Explanation of Retainer Fees

The retainer fee is a one-time fee that works similarly to the way lawyers charge for their services. Many dissertation coaches charge in the neighborhood of $1500-$2500 for a retainer fee and between $300 and $500 per month, but we try to make our services more affordable.

The rationale for the $500 retainer fee is as follows:

  • The fee compensates the dissertation coach for agreeing to be on standby. By doing so, regardless of other events that may come up, the coach is potentially foregoing other situations or other business in order to remain available when needed. For example, it is not uncommon to receive a note from a student saying, "please call me as soon as possible" at 7:00 AM in the morning or at 11:00 PM at night.

  • Also, the fee absorbs some of the costs associated with the amount that could never be recovered in the absence of an hourly rate. For example, our hourly a la carte rate is $100 per hour, consequently, over a month's time, we could easily dedicate more than 10 hours with a combination of conversations, readings, research, etc., which, using an hourly rate, could equate to $1000.

  • Finally, should an unforeseen circumstance occur, making it impossible for the client to pay the coach as originally agreed, the retainer fee ensures that the coach receives a minimal portion of compensation for the time devoted to the client’s matters.

Flex Pay

Flex pay is available to clients who are unable to pay the $500 or $250 retainer fee in one lump sum. In this case, clients can pay the retainer over time.

The monthly fee of $150 covers services provided over a month's time. Whether we provide 1 hour of service or 20 hours of service, the monthly fee remains constant.

Contractual Notes

Although most clients choose to remain in their contracts until project completion, once a client enters into a contract with The Dissertation Diva, the client may discontinue the contract at any time without penalty; however, any monies paid to The Dissertation Diva up to the point of discontinuation will be retained.

For example, Mary pays $100 for services on the 1st of the month, but decides to discontinue service on the 16th of the month. The Dissertation Diva retains all fees, but Mary is out of the contract as of the 16th of the month.

A Final Note

Thesis and Dissertation coaching operates much like any other class. The instructor assists the learner; however, the learner has a responsibility to work toward the successful completion of the project. In the master's or dissertation process, results come in phases, meaning that specific results cannot be reached until certain tasks are completed.

For example, you can’t construct a proposal unless you understand the purpose of your study. You can’t write a methods section until you have identified the type of study you are going to conduct. You can’t complete a thesis or dissertation unless you finish each section of the document! Our goal is to help you get to the finish line!

Specials!!!!! 

  • $50 off retainer fees to members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and their immediate family members!!

  • $50 off retainer fees to all mothers during the month of May!!
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