How Dr Rose Nyunja Earned Her PhD While Putting Family First

I first met Dr Rose Nyunja Irungu in a local group where she was heading up a project. Her leadership caught my attention immediately. There was something different about her— a blend of warmth, wisdom, and infectious energy that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

Impressed by what I saw, I reached out to her, and our brief interaction left me wanting to know more. So, I invited her for an interview. I thought I was just going to hear about her career. Instead, I was on a rollercoaster ride through her wins and setbacks, late-night study sessions, and family sacrifices. 

Dr. Rose’s story, as it turns out, is anything but ordinary.

As I would soon discover, Dr Rose Nyunja Irungu wears many hats. She’s a wife, a mother of two, and a Digital Literacy Coach at Fort Worth ISD.

From Bugs to Blackboards

“My journey started around 2004/2005 when I first came to the United States,” Dr. Irungu recalls. She arrived with dreams of pursuing a Ph.D. in food security and entomology. “I was working with bugs,” she laughs. “You can’t believe it, but I was making sure that the food that comes to your table doesn’t have extra chemicals or infestation.”

Even though it was a fulfilling career for her, something wasn’t quite right. Dr. Irungu realized that spending her days alone in a lab didn’t align with who she was. “I’m a people person,” she explains. It was a pivotal moment of self-awareness that would shape her career.

Finding Her True Calling in the Classroom

Taking a leap of faith, Dr Rose Nyunja downgraded her Ph.D. to a master’s degree and moved to Dallas to become a teacher. She taught high school for ten years, describing her students as “a handful, but you know…” Her voice trails off, filled with fondness for those years in the classroom.

It was during this decade of teaching that Dr. Irungu found her true calling. “I realized the locus of my impact was very limited to my classroom and school,” she says. This realization sparked a desire to expand her influence, leading her to transition into teacher training— a role she still plays.

But Dr. Irungu’s thirst for knowledge and growth didn’t stop there. She chose to pursue a doctorate in Education and Technology because technology was heavily influencing the direction of the world. 

Balancing Act: Family, Work, and Studies

“When everybody went to sleep is when I worked on my thesis,” she tells me, a mix of pride and reminiscing in her voice. “I had an Excel worksheet that had a million cells. That’s how much data I had to synthesize for my coursework.”

She was pursuing her doctorate while juggling a full-time job and a family. It was a balancing act that would have made even a circus performer sweat.

“I did not want to miss events in my children’s lives,” she explains. “I did not want my husband to feel neglected.”

So, she carved out time where she could find it. Some nights, it was a mere 20 minutes before fatigue won. Other nights, she’d push through for hours.

“I still had to come home and cook. I couldn’t bring the worst of myself to my family. I still had to bring the best.”

It was a grueling schedule that would have broken most people. But Dr. Rose? She was set on earning her PhD and still keeping her family as the priority. 

“My children were like, ‘Mama, when are you gonna be Dr. Rose?'” she recalls, her face softening at the memory. This was the reality of pursuing a dream while keeping her world turning. It was messy, exhausting, and sometimes felt impossible. However, for Dr. Rose, having a supportive family who cheered her on made all her sacrifices worthwhile.

The Low Points

There were moments of doubt and exhaustion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Irungu hit a low point. “I was like, okay, now I’m not gonna finish another one. This doesn’t look good on me,” she admits. 

The weight of expectations, both self-imposed and perceived, felt overwhelming at times.

But through it all, Dr. Irungu’s family remained her rock. The support of her children, along with her husband’s, carried her through the most challenging times.

Now, with her PhD already secured, a great career, and a few side businesses, Dr. Irungu is passionate about sharing her experience with other women who are trying to make their dreams a reality.

Make The Journey Your OWN

When I asked Dr. Rose what advice she would give to busy women pursuing higher education, she urged them to make the journey their own. 

“There’s a structure, for sure,” Dr. Irungu acknowledged. “The school might tell you you have to finish this within three years or four years. But this is your journey. Travel it the way you know best.” 

Dr. Irungu’s own program was supposed to take four years, but it took her five and a half. “My family came first,” she declared. “There’s no competition in this race.”

This commitment to family, however, comes with its own set of challenges. Dr. Irungu speaks candidly about moments of self-doubt and exhaustion, where she questioned her ability to finish. But even with these challenges, she still admits that “It’s okay to take breaks. “Don’t follow the crowd or the pressure to finish in a specific timeframe. Make it your journey, and prioritize what matters most to you.”

Financial constraints are a very real concern, and Dr. Rose acknowledges this. “If you need to take a leave of absence, do it. Talk to your school. They might offer options like semester breaks to help you manage the financial burden.”

Some people will get it done in two years, some in three, but don’t let that overshadow what truly matters—your progress. 

“If you started and then dropped out because of finances, or you are an overwhelmed mom or wife, or whatever, it’s okay. It’s okay to enjoy the moment in your life where you are at that point. If you have a new baby, leave the PhD alone for a while and enjoy the new baby. It’s okay to be in that season of life. That’s very important.”

She also believes that seeking God’s guidance before making big decisions is really important. “Seek God first before you make these huge life-changing decisions that affect your finances, your family’s finances, your children, and your family time. Let God give you the clarity that you that you need.”

Parting Shot from Dr Rose Nyunja

The key takeaway from Dr Rose Nyunja’s message is this. Every day, put one foot in front of the other. As long as you’re moving forward, you’re making progress. Don’t be discouraged by the seemingly slow pace.  Small, consistent steps add up. 

More importantly, “You don’t owe anyone an explanation as to why you didn’t finish. If you’re ready and want to go back to school, go back on your own terms. If you don’t want to go back and you’re like, ‘I’m okay where I am,’ that’s okay too. Remember, we’re not in a competition. You’re not competing against anybody else.“

Related: From Nurse to Runway: Rosefaith’s Journey of Beauty with Purpose

Here are two helpful resources:

1. National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)
2. American Association of University Women (AAUW)