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Rutgers' First Parent-Child PhDs Make History
23 Feb
Summary
- A mother and daughter became Rutgers' first parent-child PhD duo.
- Inez, 91, earned her psychology doctorate in 1984.
- Jennifer earned her doctorate in 1992 and now teaches at Rutgers.
Rutgers University has recognized Inez Phillips Durham, 91, and her daughter, Jennifer Durham, as the first parent-child duo to achieve doctorates in psychology from the institution. Inez began her academic journey at Rutgers in 1953, eventually earning her bachelor's in psychology in 1957, a master's in social work in 1961, and her doctorate in psychology in 1984.
She accomplished this as a single mother, balancing her studies with work and raising Jennifer. Jennifer pursued her own academic path, earning her doctorate in psychology in 1992, eight years after her mother. This unique achievement highlights their strong bond and shared commitment to education.
Jennifer has since returned to Rutgers as a professor, focusing on equipping students with skills to address educational and mental health disparities in marginalized youth. Both mother and daughter emphasize the importance of service and giving back, a principle instilled by Inez and passed down to Jennifer.
