
....with coaching support from Dr. Matthews!
My name is Dr. Antoinette L. Matthews and I am the Founder and lead coach of The FinishEdD Dissertation (TFD). I help female doctoral candidates of color align, organize, and FINISH their qualitative dissertation proposals in my 12-week dissertation proposal coaching program, Propel.
My journey as a doctoral candidate and the challenges I overcame inspired me to step into my calling as an academic writing coach. Now, after more than 20 years in the K-12 classroom and in instructional leadership, I am passionately dedicated to equipping candidates with proven strategies, doctoral-level writing skills, and expert guidance to help them reach their writing finish lines with fewer review comments and faster chapter approvals.
So, whether you're just beginning Chapter 1, feeling stuck somewhere between Chapters 1 and 3, or returning to your writing after a short or extended break. No matter where you are in the process, if you are pursuit of PROGRESS, I can help you!
In addition to my signature coaching program, Propel, I offer two additional coaching support options:
The Literature Review Workshop (4 hours)
The Qualitative Proposal Intensive (8 hours)
More about these two coaching support options and about my free webinar session can be found by scrolling below.
Struggling to get your dissertation proposal approved?
Join this free webinar and learn three essential secrets to help you transform your proposal into a clear, well-structured, and compelling approval-ready document.
In the webinar, you will:
✅ learn how to bring all the key parts together with clarity and purpose
✅ learn how to enhance readability and logical flow
✅ learn how to showcase your critical thinking to build a strong, coherent narrative
Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to gain the insights you need to move forward and remember,
Join my Dissertation Tips, Links, and Resources group on FB to receive FREE, super-valuable support to help you finish your proposal!
Ready to connect with other female doctoral candidates of color?
Female doctoral candidates of color are invited to join a FREE two-hour Zoom session of JUST WRITING. No talking, no teaching, no selling, and no coaching.
To take advantage of this offer:
Are you feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Ready to bring clarity and confidence to your dissertation proposal?
If you’ve been searching for trustworthy, step-by-step resource, this is the one great tool you’ve been waiting for.
This powerful 28-page e-book is packed with expert guidance on how to design a strong dissertation proposal in just five steps! Topics include clarity, the problem, framework, structure, ect.
Download your copy now now for just $37 during the limited-time presale—ends March 31st!
After that, the regular price increases to $47, so don’t wait to grab this must-have guide at a special introductory rate.
Because you deserve expert support without overwhelm—let this be your next best step forward.
Download your Blueprint and prepare for progress.
Pre-sale (through March 31) - $37
Regular price (beginning April 1) - $47
Struggling to make sense of the literature review and synthesis?
The Literature Review Workshop is designed to take you from confusion to clarity in a single, power-packed session. In just four hours, you'll gain a structured outline, clearly defined sub-sections, and the confidence to move forward with your Chapter 2. With expert guidance, proven strategies, and exclusive tools, you'll break through the overwhelm and begin to make real progress.
Walk away with a solid plan and a clear path to completion - because your dissertation won't wait, and neither should you!
Details:
This 4-hour session provides a structured approach to unpack the common complexities of Chapter 2 in a way that increases participants' clarity, and motivation to finish.
Participants are expertly guided through this hands-on session to transform their disorganized writing into a chapter that reflects significant improvement in alignment, organization, transition, and synthesis.
Expect to go from overwhelmed to organized in 4-hours!
What to Expect from the Literature Review Workshop:
✅ A Clear Roadmap for Your Literature Review -
Learn how to structure your chapter with a logical flow that builds a strong foundation of your study.
✅ The Art of Synthesis Unlocked -
Go beyond simply summarizing; learn how to skillfully integrate sources to showcase your scholarly voice and create a compelling review of the literature.
✅ Supportive Learning Environment -
Engage with like-minded scholars in a space designed to encourage, challenge, and support you along your dissertation journey.
Specifics:
🌱 Date: Sun, May 4, 2025
🌱 Time: 2pm - 6pm (CST)
🌱 Place: Zoom
Investment: $5
Spaces are limited!
Are you struggling to organize and write your proposal?
The Qualitative Proposal Intensive is the answer you need! This 8-hour session was created to take candidates from all points of confusion to clarity in a two-day session packed with models, examples, resources, and clarifying answers to your most pressing questions. With expert guidance, proven strategies, and exclusive tools, you'll begin to EXPERIENCE THE ELEVATION!
Details:
The Qualitative Proposal Intensive is a two-day, high-impact experience designed to provide clarity, structure, and momentum for completing Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of your dissertation. Through expert guidance and in-class accountability, you will systematically work through each section of these foundational chapters, transforming disorganized sections into well-aligned, cohesive work that reflects doctoral-level readability and intentional precision.
Expect interactive instruction, hands-on writing time, and real-time feedback to ensure your proposal is both methodologically sound and academically rigorous.
By the end of this intensive, you'll move from feeling overwhelmed to confidently prepared, equipped with the strategies and resources needed to propel your dissertation forward.
What to Expect from the Qualitative Proposal Intensive:
✅ Live Modeling & Real Examples -
Watch the dissertation-writing process in action with guided demonstrations to help break down complex concepts into clear manageable steps.
✅ Exclusive Resources for Alignment & Organization -
Receive two powerful tools: one to ensure your proposal maintains strong alignment and another to help you track and organize your research efficiently.
✅ Step-by-Step Strategy for Proposal Development -
Learn a proven approach to structuring and refining Chapters 1-3, ensuring each section connects seamlessly.
✅ Mastering Logical Flow & Cohesion -
Discover how to create smooth transitions between paragraphs and sections, strengthening the clarity and readability of your proposal.
✅ The Art of Synthesis Unlocked -
Go beyond simply summarizing; learn how to skillfully integrate sources to showcase your scholarly voice and create a compelling review of the literature.
✅ Interactive Writing & Real-Time Feedback -
Apply what you learn through guided writing exercises and receive expert feedback to refine your work on the spot.
✅ Confidence & Clarity to Propel You Forward -
Walk away with a structured plan, renewed motivation, and the tools you need to keep making progress beyond the Intensive.
✅ Supportive Learning Environment -
Engage with like-minded scholars in a space designed to encourage, challenge, and support you along your dissertation journey.
Specifics:
🌱 Date: Sat & Sun, April 26 & 27, 2025
🌱 Time: 2pm - 6pm (CST)
🌱 Place: Zoom
Investment: $5
Spaces are limited!
Are you ready for personalized support, fewer review comments, and faster chapter approvals?
Propel is a 12-week private coaching program designed to support female doctoral candidates of color who need structured dissertation writing support. This program provides a high level of accountability, weekly page-by-page reviews, and expert feedback. With valuable edit suggestions and precise guidance, all delivered in a private virtual setting, Propel helps candidates stay on track and make meaningful progress toward reaching their dissertation goals.
To reach the anticipated proposal transformation, we follow my 5-step proprietary framework (SPARC) over the 12-week timeframe of the program.
Primary expected outcomes:
✅ page by page support
✅ immediate (weekly) feedback
✅ improved alignment
✅ improved connectedness
✅ improved organization
✅ improved synthesis
✅ fewer review comments
✅ faster chapter approvals
Secondary expected outcomes:
✅ reduced stress
✅ increased self-efficacy
✅ fewer university invoices
✅ better prepared for proposal defense
Investment: $4
Payment Options:
Full payment - no additional charges added
Payment plan - $300 finance charge added
$1,500 down payment
$1,100 per month (3 payments)
Spaces are limited!
The VIP Weekend is a 2-day, 10-hour coaching option available as a service add-on to the Propel Private Coaching service.
The VIP Weekend is the fastest way to help clients "comb" through a single chapter in the shortest amount of time.
Clients must have at least one fully completed chapter for review (no blank sections). The objective of the VIP Weekend is to engage in a detailed review of an entire chapter, word-by-word, line-by-line and page-by-page, ensuring alignment, organization, readability and comprehension are present.
Other than focusing on a single chapter, clients can opt to use the VIP Weekend to address any pressing needs - IRB, dissertation defense presentations, addressing suggested edits from the chair / committee, ect.
🌱 Grammar, APA, and content corrections will be made (LIVE) as we read through the chapter. At the conclusion of the VIP Weekend, clients may be faced with edit suggestions and/or have to add citations, additional sections, ect. to the document.
Investment: $1
(Add-on option available on the coaching application.)
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Please contact us if you cannot find an answer to your question.
A dissertation coach is an accomplished academic writing professional, hired by doctoral candidates to help them overcome challenges and reach a specific dissertation writing goal.
Writing goals are determined by the client and the coach prior to engaging in the initial coaching session.
Editing services are included in the weekly document review. The editing service includes a purposeful and targeted focus on the mechanics of writing such as spelling, grammar, sentence structure, flow, consistency, and readability for the target audience.
"Professional" editing, as an independent service (without coaching), is not provided.
Ghostwriting and done-for-you services are not offered.
Doctoral students are responsible (and expected) to be the original authors of their work. Having any other person write your dissertation for you is unethical and violates academic responsibility.
Yes, coaching contracts are required.
The contract serves as the official documentation of the requirements and expectations of BOTH the coach and the client and it is a legally binding document across the United States. (International coaching services are currently not offered.)
No, refunds are not provided - regardless of the situation or circumstance.
1. Introduction
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Website: www.thefinishedddissertation.com
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Did your chairperson or committee members tell you about the three secrets that will help you finish your proposal?
If not, I will! REGISTER TODAY to attend my upcoming "3 Secrets" Webinar on Thursday, 4/24/2025 @ 8pm EST. (The webinar is FREE!)
Registration link on the home page.