Lake Anna writing retreat helps Ph.D. social work students build their dissertations – and friendships

By Sian Wilkerson

As any doctoral student learns, writing a dissertation takes time and occasional blood, sweat and tears. For Ph.D. students in Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Social Work, a week of fun, sun - and focus - at the lake helps ease the burden and cement lasting bonds.

In recent years, social work students have had the chance to travel to Lake Anna, about an hour northwest of Richmond, to spend a week writing their qualifying papers and dissertations and relaxing with their cohort, all from the comfort of a vacation house on the water. The home, which belongs to VCU alum Keita Franklin, sleeps 16 and has ample space for students to collaborate.

The first retreat was held in fall 2022 - and made an immediate impression.

"I can point to whole sections of my dissertation that were written during that week," said Camie Tomlinson, who earned her Ph.D. in 2023 and is now an assistant professor of social work at the University of Louisville. "It was also really encouraging and motivating to know that we had support not only from our cohort but also from alums of the Ph.D. program and from faculty and staff."

When Franklin, now a specialist executive at Deloitte Consulting LLP, first reached out to VCU's School of Social Work about donating time at her Lake Anna house, it was with the hope of fostering such bonds.

"Sometimes when you're writing your dissertation, it can be a very lonely time," said Franklin, who earned her Ph.D. in 2010. "It's a very quiet time where you're doing a lot of introspective thinking and analysis on your own, so to bring people together during that time might serve as a way to increase peer support and give you some time with like-minded folks who are also in the same boat as you."

While much of their time is spent writing, Ph.D. students also get the chance to relax. (Photo contributed by Aaron Kemmerer)

Denise Burnette, Ph.D., the Samuel S. Wurtzel Endowed Chair in Social Work and former director of the school's doctoral program, thanked Franklin for opening her home to VCU's social work community.

"Her generosity enables third- and fourth-year students to work on their qualifying papers and dissertations in a relaxing setting that fosters community-building and focused scholarship," Burnette said. "We are so proud to claim her as a graduate and deeply grateful for her commitment to current students' academic success."

Though plenty of time is spent writing and doing work, the lake house also affords opportunities for relaxation, with Franklin going the extra mile to ensure that the stay is memorable.

"Keita even catered dinner for us one night and took us on a ride on her boat," said Muna Saleh, a fourth-year Ph.D. student. "The experience was phenomenal. It was a wonderful way to de-stress and build community while also writing - an otherwise isolating exercise."

Franklin remembers hearing about a similar retreat opportunity at a vacation spot overseas during her doctoral studies at VCU. Though she never went, the idea of doing something similar, closer to home, resonated.

The view from the Lake Anna property. (Photo contributed by Keita Frankli

As part of a military family, Franklin has spent years moving from place to place, finding a new community and adding to her professional network with every relocation.

"Every spot I've been to, I've met incredible people who have helped me in incredible ways and people I'm so grateful for and who have been major influencers in my career," she said. "Like, 'Wow, if it had not been for this person, I would not be here today and doing what I'm doing.' I think back and I owe a debt of gratitude to so many people, and they don't even know how instrumental they were."

For Jennifer Murphy, who also received her Ph.D. from VCU in 2023, the retreat was an "integral part" of her progress, both in completing her dissertation and taking the next step in her career. She is now an assistant professor of social work at the University of Texas at Arlington.

"The timing of the retreat allowed me to focus my time on writing, which was for many reasons less stressful with such a beautiful view of Lake Anna and with friends by my side," she said. "I had a wonderful time not only working but bonding with my cohort."

After attending the retreat together, Murphy and Tomlinson continue to make time every week in their new roles to write together by remote.

"We saw how beneficial it was to have a writing buddy while we were at the retreat," Murphy said. "Our writing time is something I continue to cherish and hope we can maintain for years to come."

With two retreats completed, Franklin is eager to welcome a new cohort in the fall. She also hopes to continue to find ways to open her home for future collaborations with the VCU social work community.

"That's what the profession is about," Franklin said. "We have a principle that is focused on paying it forward and disseminating what you know and helping each other. It's at the heart of the profession."

Students on the retreat had the opportunity to go out on the lake on Franklin's boat. (Photo contributed by Aaron Kemmerer)

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