Laurisa Ankley
She/Her
Top Expert
You Belong in Graduate School. Let's Build the Application that Proves It.
Michigan State University
Successful clients at
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Starting at 6:00 PM UTC
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Your final application review, before your big moment.
$375.39
Nail the PhD Interview
Starting at
$375.39
About
Customer favorite
In the top 10% of PhD Programs experts on Leland
As a student, I didn't know you could get a PhD (let alone get paid to do one) until my junior year of college. By that point I'd already stumbled my way into research by accident: I started in my department's stockroom as a work-study student, found an opening washing dishes in a lab, and ended up leading my own research project and publishing a first-author paper. Nobody handed me a roadmap. I just kept saying yes to the next open door. That experience is why I do this work. I'm a first-gen PhD graduate from MSU, and I have spent years inside graduate admissions by founding programs designed specifically to help students figure out how this process works and make a genuine case for themselves. I know what a strong application looks like from both sides, and more importantly, I know what it feels like to not know where to start. When we work together, it won't feel like a checklist. We'll figure things out together from where to apply, what to say, and how to tell your story in a way that's completely, authentically yours. We start with one question: why do you want to go to graduate school? And we build everything from there. Whether you're a first-generation student, a career-changer, or simply someone who wants to get this right, let's chat.
Laurisa’s PhD Programs Qualifications
20+ PhD Programs clients
AI Certified
Completed Level 5 of Leland’s AI Builder Program
Laurisa has helped clients get into these schools:
Supporting graduate students is my full-time career. As Director of Graduate Student Success at Michigan State University, I work every day at the intersection of admissions and student success across the natural sciences. I partner with faculty on admissions decisions, advise students on program fit, review applications, and build strategic plans that help students not just get in but thrive once they're there. I see the entire arc of a graduate student's journey, from recruitment to graduation. That means when you work with me, you're not getting advice based on memory. You're getting real-time, inside knowledge of what graduate programs are looking for right now. Before stepping into this role, I earned my own PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from MSU, navigating the process as a first-generation student without a roadmap. I then founded GRIT, an equity-focused admissions and recruitment program that I ran across multiple PhD departments, reviewing real applications and training others to do the same. I've sat on admissions committees. I know what a compelling application looks like from the inside. I also know the researcher's path firsthand, from an accidental start washing lab dishes to leading my own project and publishing a first-author paper. When you're trying to articulate your research experience or scholarly identity, I can help you do it with precision and confidence. Schedule a free intro call today!
Laurisa can help with:
Application Strategy
Editing
Essays
Interviews
Letters of Recommendation
Research
Resume
School Selection
Secondary Review
Why do I coach?
Because I've been that student, the one who didn't know the unwritten rules, who almost talked themselves out of applying, who needed someone to say 'you belong here, and here's how to show that.' That experience gave me a deep empathy for anyone navigating this process, regardless of where they're starting from. Helping students walk into graduate applications with clarity and confidence, and walk out with acceptances is some of the the most meaningful work that I get to do.
Work Experience
Director of Graduate Student Success
Michigan State University
April 2024 - Present
Admissions Committee
Partner with faculty and graduate programs to support admissions and graduate student success across the natural sciences. Advise students on navigating graduate school, from application through completion.
CEO and Founder
A Developing Small Business
2024 - Present
Lead a venture focused on creating innovative solutions to support graduate students in their academic and career journeys.
Founder and Director of the GRIT Application Feedback Program
Michigan State University
2021 - 2023
Interviewer
Designed and led an application review program for PhD applicants, creating accessible, supportive pathways and resources to ensure high-quality feedback—especially for first-generation and historically excluded students.
Founder of the MSU Graduate Recruitment Initiative Team (GRIT)
Michigan State University
2020 - 2023
Interviewer
Developed and led equity-focused recruitment and retention programs for multiple Ph.D. departments, managing a team of 10, securing grant funding, and using data-driven strategies to optimize impact and align with institutional goals.
Education
Michigan State University
PhD, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
2018 - 2023
Developed expertise in research, professional development, and student mentorship, drawing on experience as a first-gen, LGBTQ student to support peers and build skills for graduate admissions coaching. Highlighted experiences include: CGIU Fellow, Peer Mentor, GRIT Founder, Application Feedback Program Founder, Small Business Owner, five publications, and nine research presentations.
Eastern Washington University
Bachelor of Science, Biology
2016 - 2018
My first-generation college experience shaped my perspective on navigating higher education and supporting others through admissions and academic success. Developed foundational skills in research, critical thinking, and academic writing. Highlighted experiences include: TRIO McNair Scholar, NSF S-STEM recipient, one research publication, and nine research presentations.
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Laurisa has helped clients get into these schools:
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