For Drouin sisters, road through Eastern leads to Ph.D.s

Erin (’16) and Renee (’15) Drouin have a close relationship as sisters — “above average closeness,” according to Erin. They also share the uncommon bond of both holding a Ph.D.

With a Ph.D. in communication from The Ohio State University, Erin is a lead research analyst for Avangrid, an energy services company. Renee’s Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition/writing studies from Bowling Green State University has landed her a position as assistant teaching professor of rhetoric/composition at Penn State Harrisburg.

“We would not be where we are without the faculty at Eastern,” said Erin. “We were given endless opportunities to work with faculty,” agreed Renee.

Mentorship from Eastern faculty

For all their similarities, Erin and Renee went into their undergraduate years at Eastern with different career aspirations. During her first year at Eastern, Erin, who majored in political science, envisioned a future in public relations.

Erin’s outlook changed when typing transcripts at 2 a.m. for political science Professor Nicole Krassas’s research methods course: “It was so much fun,” said Erin.

She wasn’t joking. Following, she discussed entering a Ph.D. program with her faculty advisor, then-political science Professor William Salka. She remembers Salka’s words to her: “Based on what you do here, you will not have to pay to do that.

“That completely changed the course of my life,” she said. “I got a master’s and a Ph.D. that were fully funded, and now I’m in a very comfortable job that I find very fun. … I get to study how people behave, which 18-year-old me would never have dreamt of.”

While earning her master’s degree in communication at the University of Delaware, Erin kept in touch with Krassas and leaned on her for big decisions.

“When I was choosing a Ph.D. program, I asked Dr. Krassas where I should go,” she said. When Krassas suggested Ohio State, Erin’s decision was made: “You can draw a direct line. … That’s how I made my decision.”

Renee, meanwhile, knew before attending Eastern that she wanted to earn a Ph.D., but imagined it would be in history. Like Erin, she took inspiration from her professors when contemplating different career paths.

“I ended up going into English and rhetoric thanks to faculty mentorship,” said Renee. She credits English Professor Miriam Chirico for helping her pursue graduate school while keeping her mind open to alternative paths.

“Not only did she prepare me for grad school; she cared enough about me to make me think logistically about what happens if we don’t get that far,” said Renee.

From Honors Scholars to graduate students

While at Eastern, both Erin and Renee were members of the University Honors Program, which put them through the rigors of graduate-level research early through their senior thesis projects.

“At Eastern, the thesis was a really hard time, and then my master's thesis was a very similarly difficult time,” said Erin. “Then, the dissertation was like a punch in the face every day.”

After getting accepted to their master’s programs (Renee at Rutgers University-Camden and Erin at Delaware), the Honors Program faculty members were some of their loudest supporters.

Supporting each other through each change

Renee and Erin attended graduate programs 50 miles from each other, helping to feel at home while away from their native Connecticut.

During their Ph.D. programs, with their universities located two and a half hours apart in Ohio, the two made frequent visits to each other’s campuses. Here, they found support needed to conquer their doctoral studies.

“Being geographically close helped in that when you needed the support, it came to you,” said Renee of her sister. “Erin ended up surprising me by showing up in person to my dissertation perspectives.”

While being geographically close, Erin and Renee also leaned on each other while separately working on their studies. This time, Erin benefited from being a year behind Renee in school, looking to her as a guide.

“Being able to know someone who knows those things and loves you wildly and unconditionally when you're going through a very difficult time academically, personally, and emotionally was wonderful,” said Erin.