Book excerpt: Every Ph.D. has a story, and Gwynette Ford Lacy is no exception. As a young black girl struggling amid the trappings of inner-city Washington, DC to overcome a broken home, an attempted sexual assault, and relentless bullying, she became determined to survive and succeed despite her background, gender, and the color of her skin. In an intimate retelling of her personal story, Lacy details how she emerged from a childhood full of challenges to beat the odds and achieve a series of “firsts,” to become the first African American female to earn a Ph.D. in her business field from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Lacy discloses how she transformed into a math whiz, STEM trailblazer, high school cheerleader and activist. She received a tuition scholarship to the former all-male Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where she pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and graduated magna cum laude, in three years, earning her department’s Wall Street Journal Award. The great, great, great granddaughter of a female slave, Lacy provides an eye-opening glimpse into major events in American history in the 1960’s and 70’s, such as the Civil Rights Movement, assassinations and riots, and the Vietnam War. She also shares the triumphs she experienced along the way, including laughter, love, and joy, and how she created a life that matters through perseverance, hope and determination (PHD). Madame Ph.D. shares the inspiring true story of an African American woman’s journey from inner-city Washington, DC, to achieve professional success as a college professor/administrator, international management consultant, and motivational speaker. This title is now also available with color photographs. When ordering please make note of the softcover formats: ISBN: 9781665713726 (color photos) ISBN: 9781665720427 (black and white photos)