Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Tadzia Dennis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dr. Tadzia, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I went to a white school as a kid. I was the only Black/African American there. I lived on the north side of the tracks and if you know anything about the city of Flagstaff Az. you will understand that the north side of the tracks was meant for white families only. We moved into a neighborhood where we were the only black family there. I went to that school until 6th grade went I was integrated with the rest of the people I knew from the Southside. My grandmother’, family, and cousins all lived on the southside. In junior high and high school, I experienced a tremendous identity crisis. I wasn’t white enough to be with my white friends and nor black enough to be with my black friends. Once I graduated from school I moved to Atlanta and experienced more identity crisis as well as culture shock. In my years of school, I went to school with many Indigenous Americans, Latinx, and white students, however, moving to Atlanta all I saw was black people. I felt like I was in a whole new world, culture shock, and embarrassed that I was so uncomfortable around my own people.
I eventually settled in and lived in Atlanta for 5 years getting married and having my first son. Went I left home I was pursuing a degree in communications. While in Atlanta I earned a position at AT&T which is the ultimate in communications but wasn’t really happy about the role. My brother passed away two weeks before I was due with my son which strongly encouraged me to go back home. Once moving back to Flagstaff, I had my son, My husband was working a position taking care of the family but his salary left nothing extra. I decided to go back to school and finish my degree this time starting as a Hotel/Restaurant Management major. I completed that degree while working as a catering manager to fulfill the requirements of the program. I loved catering but working 70-80 hours a week with a new baby wasn’t feasible. I then went back to school for my first master’s degree in Career and Technical Education with an emphasis on K-12 administration. I realized I didn’t want to be a K-12 teacher or administrator and went back for a second master s in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on higher education community college administration.
That’s when I fell in love with higher education. In the process of attaining that degree, the University of Phoenix contacted me to be adjunct faculty for them. That’s when I fell in love with teaching. I knew at that time that GOD wanted me to change this world one student at a time helping others fulfill their dreams and goals of attaining a higher education degree. I wnet on to attain 5 degrees with my terminal degree being a Ph.D. in Higher Eductaion Administration. It took me over 15 years to get all of my degrees. I did it while working full-time jobs, raunsing my two boys, dealing with an abusive husband, I was also teaching and being very active in my sorority.
I know GOD’s purpose for my life. I love it, I embrace it, and I live it. I thank GOD for loving me enugh to give me a pupose that changes the world.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Dr. Tadzia Dennis is the owner and consultant of Taz & Co Consulting. She has earned five degrees in her educational career, including AA in General Studies, BS in Hotel/ Restaurant Management, M.Ed. in Career and Technical Education, an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. She has over 20 years of higher education experience in student affairs, leadership management, academic affairs, and was awarded Faculty of the Year in 2016.
Dr. T. is extremely passionate about her students and higher education doing all she can to support them and help them succeed in their educational journey.
Taz & Co Consulting is a premier service for students from all walks of life who are interested in furthering their education in and out of the classroom. We support students holistically helping with their higher education goals and connecting them with companies based on their identified needs. Taz & Co Consulting is a one-stop service providing educational support and viable, reliable business connections.
Our mission is to provide consulting services to students in every phase of higher education ensuring their holistic needs are met. The Taz & Co Consulting vision is to see students, families, and communities all support the efforts of education through the successful completion and earning of degrees. To change the world by supporting students holistically and ensuring their path to the education they seek is paved with a celebration of who they are, where they came from, and where they are going.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three qualities that were most impactful in my journey were first the realization that I matter, my voice matters and I am worthy. Second, I learned that I do not have to diminish myself to uplift someone else. We are all great! Third is that we all have a purpose, a GOD-given purpose that is innate in us and ready for us to dive in and pursue with our whole selves.
To be their best, to accomplish their goals, to pursue GOD’s purpose individuals need to be their selves. Their true selves.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am Taz & Co Consulting. The Co part of my business is the collaboration with others. I am always looking for other businesses to collaborate with. I currently have everything from insurance and financial health experts, editors, people who encourage courageous conversations., and hospice experts. All of these people give my students, who I support, a free 45-minute introductory session to identify their needs and how they can help. I refer my students to the partners I work with.
Contact Info:
- Website: tazcoconsulting.com
- Instagram: dr.t_ph.d
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/TazCoConsulting
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tadzia-dennis-12856716
