Keeping Our Heads above Water

234 Pages·2014·0.97 MB·English

“Keeping Our Heads above Water”
Rethinking Need and Participation in Public Anti-poverty Programs

by

Kerri Leyda Nicoll

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
(Social Work and Political Science)
in the University of Michigan
2014

Doctoral Committee:

Professor Sandra K. Danziger, Co-Chair
Associate Professor Ann Chih Lin, Co-Chair
Professor Pamela Brandwein
Assistant Professor Luke Shaefer
“I don’t want more than what I’m supposed to get. I just want to keep above. I just want to keep
my head above water so I’m not drowning. That’s it.” (Hannah)
© Kerri Leyda Nicoll 2014
To Chris & Malcolm,
without whom this work – and my life – would surely be incomplete.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It hardly seems possible that seven years have passed since I started the Joint Program in
Social Work and Political Science. During that time, I have completed course work, passed
preliminary exams, learned what it means to be a scholar and teacher, given birth to an amazing
little boy, and found a home – none of which would have been possible without the community
that has supported and encouraged me throughout.
I came to Ann Arbor with a passion for social justice that grew out of my family’s
dedication to service, my education – particularly at Princeton Theological Seminary – and my
interactions with people whose lives had been impacted by poverty. Those interactions were
many, but the most inspiring occurred during my four years at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
(TASK). As I served meals, tutored adults in basic literacy, organized volunteers, and wrote
grant proposals, I also made friends, listened to stories, celebrated accomplishments, and grieved
for losses – all of which led me to pursue a career in social work, through which I hoped to use
education, research, and policy to make a difference in the lives of the poor. I would never have
had these opportunities if it were not for Peter Wise, who hired me, trained me, believed in me,
and continues to mentor and inspire me with his dedication to serving those in need.
I entered the doctoral program with a pretty vague sense of how I might bridge the fields
of social work and political science. Thankfully I found incredible guides and mentors along the
way who helped me to clarify my ideas, ask my questions, and pursue my interests, all while
fulfilling the requirements of a joint program! Ann Lin and Sandy Danziger have been my
advisors from the beginning, and I cannot thank them enough for all that they have done to
support me in my work and my life.
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Ann has challenged me to think more deeply, write more clearly, and believe more fully
in myself. Her own work has served as a shining example of scholarship that takes the lives and
ideas of real people seriously and honors those with profoundly articulate and expressive writing.
Sandy has been my cheerleader, guiding me through the intricacies of doctoral program
requirements, coaching me through professional conferences and interviews, and never failing to
submit a letter of recommendation on time, even when I waited until the very last minute to
request it. Her encouragement has been endless and has helped me through some very
challenging experiences, both professionally and personally.
Neither Ann nor Sandy had any doubt (or at least not any they expressed to me!) that I
could get through this program, even when I had a baby along the way and – perhaps even more
amazingly – when I told them in January 2014, with only one chapter written, that I wanted to
defend my dissertation in March. Their willingness to believe in me gave me permission to
believe in myself.
While he was not officially my advisor or chair, Luke Shaefer has been a true mentor
over the past five years. He has read and edited countless drafts, helped me navigate the
publication process (resulting in my first solo-authored piece!), and encouraged my work when it
was in its most nascent form. From my prelim to my dissertation, Luke has supported me,
welcoming my family into his home and, when I couldn’t find childcare, even into his office!
From the first class I took with her nearly seven years ago, Pam Brandwein has
challenged my thinking in unimaginable ways. She has introduced me to concepts that have
become central to my work, forced me to understand my own thoughts in more depth, and,
perhaps most importantly, showed me how incredibly valuable – and exciting – interdisciplinary
scholarship can be. Without Pam’s encouragement, I might have given up on the idea of
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becoming an interdisciplinary scholar myself, but she has helped me to recognize how core this
is to my professional identity and inspired me to pursue a career that is not limited by
disciplinary boundaries.
I am also grateful to many other professors who have shaped my development as a
scholar and a teacher. Trina Shanks was the first professor to accept me as a research assistant,
and she has continued to support and encourage me throughout the doctoral program. Joe Himle
guided me through a year-long research internship and facilitated my first independent research
project. For the doors he opened and the enthusiasm he exudes, I am incredibly grateful. Laura
Lein, Karen Staller, and Anna Kirkland have shared their expertise with me, helping me to
develop and refine my interests in poverty and qualitative research. Laura has also served as a
professional mentor, answering questions about faculty life and the academic job search and
sharing inspiring (and hilarious) stories of her own experiences as a scholar, wife, and mother. I
am also extremely grateful to Berit Ingersoll-Dayton for all of her support and professional
guidance over the past several years.
Three years ago, as I sought to further my development as a teacher, I began working
with Katie Richards-Schuster and Mary Ruffolo on an evaluation of the University of
Michigan’s undergraduate minor in Community Action and Social Change (launched in 2010).
Little did I know that this would be an opportunity not only to learn about teaching from two of
the most dedicated and creative teachers I have yet encountered but also to be a part (however
small) of an educational program that is shaping and inspiring future community change agents. I
truly hope that these relationships will continue and that I will be able to bring the same passion
to my work with students that Katie and Mary model.
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I would be remiss not to thank the School of Social Work, Rackham Graduate School,
Department of Political Science, Center for the Education of Women, and the Nonprofit and
Public Management Center – all at the University of Michigan – as well as the Society for Social
Work and Research, for giving me the financial resources to pursue my education and conduct
my research. Starfish Family Services allowed me to meet research respondents through their
Head Start programs, working with me through paperwork nightmares and scheduling
challenges. I literally could not have completed my dissertation research without them. To all of
the parents who shared their stories with me, opening their homes and their lives for my research,
I really do not know how to thank you. I hope that what I have written honors your courage and
strength.
As amazing as it has been, the professional mentorship and guidance I have received has
only been one source of my strength, perseverance, and education as I pursued my PhD. The
community of friends Chris and I are a part of has made all of the hard work bearable and
possible. From recruitment weekend to our first happy hour and all of the laughter and tears that
have followed, I absolutely cannot imagine the past seven years without our friends. Emily Bosk,
Tova Neugut, and Betsy Bringewatt have shared the ups and downs of the joint program (and of
many other life events!). Allison Dale-Riddle, Alex Von Hagen Jamar, Alex Jakle, Sourav Guha,
and Molly Reynolds helped me believe that I really could make it in political science and that it
could be a lot more fun than I ever imagined. Betsy, Allison, and Claire Whitlinger have seen me
through the challenges of course work, dissertation writing, and life in general – especially when
Chris was sick and tired of hearing about my work. Allison, Emily Alden, and Susan Bryan have
been partners and inspirations in this journey called motherhood; being a new mom is really
hard, but these amazing women have been by my side along the way, as we have all learned (and
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continue to learn) how to pursue our professional and life goals while being the moms and wives
we want to be.
Betsy and John Bringewatt have been the kinds of friends people dream of having, and
both Chris and I hope to share many more vacations, card games, and conversations in the
coming years. Without Claire sitting across from me in various coffee shops, I could never have
written my dissertation in just a few short months. She made me laugh, think, and sometimes cry,
and I cannot thank her enough for all of it. Alex Von Hagen Jamar has been a constant friend –
in every sense of the word – to both Chris and myself. Alex Jakle has been the perfect wedding
date and a true, true friend. Emily Alden and John Schurrer, and Susan Bryan and Steve Hsieh,
our neighbors for the past five years, have helped Chris and I survive parenthood, a PhD
program, a horrible commute, and at least one very long, cold winter. More than neighbors, they
have been incredible friends. And Kiddie Kingdom, Malcolm’s home away from home, has
proven to be the perfect daycare, keeping Malcolm safe and happy, giving me the flexibility I
needed to complete my interviews and dissertation, and making us feel like we are not alone in
this effort to raise a happy, healthy, well-adjusted child.
My journey to this point started well before my entry into the PhD program, and none of
it would have been possible without the unbounded love and support of my parents, Anita and
Neil Nicoll, and my sister Kim. My mom has taught me how to be truly present in my life and
my work, opening myself to others in hopes that they will do the same. Her trust in the world and
in those around her and her ability to show compassion amaze me to no end. Through his own
life and work, my dad has demonstrated the kind of dedication to service that I can only hope to
emulate. We may not always have the words to say to each other, but your faith in me has never
ceased to give me strength. Kim has always been and will always be my big sister, brave in
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seeking out new adventures and possibilities and strong in her convictions, and I will always
look up to her. My brother-in-law, Dan; my sister- and brother-in-law, Ian and Martha; and my
mother- and father-in-law, Pam and Chaz, have been there throughout this process, and I am
incredibly grateful for their love and support.
And to Chris and Malcolm, how can I ever express how thankful I am for your presence
and your love. Chris has challenged, encouraged, and supported me – making me laugh when I
need it and letting me cry when I can’t stop the tears (which is pretty often) – for more than 15
years now. His wisdom and humility know no bounds, and I cannot believe my fortune at being
blessed to share this life with him. Malcolm came along about half way through this crazy
journey, and while he’s caused me some sleepless nights and worried days, his smile, laughter,
hugs, kisses – just his presence – make up for every one of those a hundred fold. Thank you,
Chris and Malcolm, for being my comfort, my motivation, my hope, my family.

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