Essex Resident, Crystal Francis, Films Documentary for Roadtrip Nation and Gains New Perspective on Career Journey

Essex resident Crystal Francis participated in a once-in-a-lifetime experience in May, as she and two other doctoral students traveled for 3 weeks from Los Angeles to New York in an RV, filming a documentary for career exploration organization Roadtrip Nation. The 1-hour program is scheduled to air next year on American Public Television, and will show the road trippers interviewing professionals and doctoral graduates to hear about their successes and challenges in achieving and utilizing the highest educational degree in their diverse fields.

Francis, who is pursuing a PhD in Public Policy and Administration with a specialization in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Walden University, said, “The experience has given me new perspective and has opened my eyes to career possibilities that I had never considered. Like many students, I had tunnel vision and thought there was one path to achieve my goals. After speaking with so many leaders in my field, I realize there are many more avenues to make a difference.”

Francis currently works full time as a program analyst at the Social Security Administration and hopes to use her education to make an impact on Baltimore City’s high crime rate. Her dissertation research focuses on reentry programs for nonviolent criminals, and she learned during her Roadtrip Nation journey about different ways to affect the criminal justice system. Ultimately, Francis wants to use her doctorate to align her passion with her job.

Francis was thrilled to return home after 3 weeks living in an RV, but says that she was inspired by the experience, and “now sees the world of opportunity.”