Outstanding Dissertation recipient Markethia Mull is from Forrest City, Arkansas. Forrest City is between Little Rock and Memphis. Currently, she resides in Houston, Texas. She loves spending time with her family as well as cooking and hosting events. Before she started writing children's books, Markethia Mull received a Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Leadership from Ashford University in San Diego, California. She has more than 18 years of experience in education as an educator, mentor, tutor, and consultant. She became a writer to put emphasis on topics relevant to girls and boys to inspire and empower children of color to embrace the difficult task of reading, identify their worth, and set and achieve their short- and long-term goals.