Inez Phillips Durham and her daughter, Jennifer Durham, are the first mother-daughter pair to both earn doctorates in psychology from Rutgers University, making history at the school.
The mother-daughter duo recently attended a gala celebrating the 50th anniversary of Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP), reflecting on the institution’s profound impact on their careers. For Inez, the true reward of her work transcends accolades and titles, residing instead in the lives she has positively influenced. A testament to this is the former client who reached out after 50 years this past Christmas simply to express gratitude.
“My fulfillment comes from witnessing people flourish—both emotionally and socially,” Inez told Rutgers in an interview. “GSAPP offered me a chance to truly make a difference; it was an extraordinary environment for learning.”
This groundbreaking duo has a significant, decades-long connection to the university. Inez, now 91, first enrolled at the New Jersey College for Women in 1953. This was the university’s women’s college before it became fully coeducational in 1972. Notably, Inez was the college’s only Black student at the time and was not assigned a roommate.
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She reflected on the situation while speaking with Rutgers. “Nothing was put in writing, but I knew why,” she said. “My attitude was: If you were given a lemon, you make lemonade.”
Inez was elected class president before earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1957. She continued her education at the university, obtaining a master’s in social work in 1961.
Much later, in 1984, she completed a doctorate in psychology from Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP).
She achieved all of this while raising her child as a single mother.
After her husband, John, died of a heart attack in 1975, Inez raised her daughter, Jennifer, while pursuing her doctorate. To support herself and her daughter, she worked as a psychotherapist, a school social worker, and a tennis instructor.
“I did it by the grace of God,” Inez recounted. “I prayed every day for the determination to get that degree. It wasn’t easy, but we managed. I say ‘we’ because Jennifer had to be more independent.”
The medical science library was a frequent spot for Inez and Jennifer; Inez focused on her dissertation while Jennifer completed her homework there.
“We had a unique relationship starting when my dad passed away. I was with her a lot,” Jennifer, who describes her dynamic with her mom as “mother-sister,” told the university.
“When I had off from school, I went to work with her. She was my first role model, really of what a leader was,” she added.
Eight years after her mother earned her degree, Jennifer also received her Ph.D. from the School of Applied and Professional Psychology in 1992.
“Jennifer and I were the first parent-child to graduate from GSAPP. I’m very proud of that,” Inez shared.
“It sunk in how unique this was for us,” Jennifer continued. “When I considered going for my MSW, she encouraged me go for my PsyD. It’s the best decision I ever made.”
Jennifer returned to Rutgers as a professor in 2020. She is passionately dedicated to equipping her students with essential skills for actively reducing the widespread educational and mental health inequality that frequently affects marginalized youth—a profound mission she directly credits to the inspiring influence of her mother.
“One of our main things is service. Always, always, always give back,” Jennifer said. “That was core to who she is, and she passed that on to me. That’s a big part of our family and why Rutgers resonates with her so much.”
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