Meet Alena Maze, the 37-year-old mother of 7 who made history as the first black woman to earn PhD in Survey Methodology

She became fascinated by how surveys shape decisions in health, policy, and research. But she also noticed gaps,  especially in how minority communities are represented in data.

This sparked her desire to become a Survey Statistician, someone who studies the mathematics behind surveys and sampling.

“Suppose we want to understand how diabetes affects women ages 30–40. In a perfect world, we would survey every woman in that age group. But that’s impossible. So we select a smaller group — a sample — to represent the whole population,” she said.

Her work helps ensure these samples are scientifically selected, unbiased, and reflect the reality of the communities they represent.

Alena eventually enrolled for her PhD in Survey Methodology and Statistics at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she spent six intense years conducting advanced research.

During this period, she balanced raising seven children, running a successful YouTube family channel, managing a household, and producing academic work that would make her the first Black person ever to earn this doctorate.

She admitted that many days felt overwhelming. “Sometimes I thought I might not be able to finish it. But I kept my eyes on the One who put this desire in me — the Lord, my Father,” she said.

Her journey was made possible through the support of her parents, sisters, husband, and close friends, forming a strong community that helped her thrive.

The moment Alena completed her dissertation defense, she knew her life had changed forever. She shared the news on Facebook, celebrating not only the degree but the milestone it represented for Black scholars everywhere.

“Yes, women. we can have families, be educated, run businesses, and have industry jobs. We can have it all with help!” she said.

Now a trailblazer in her field, Alena hopes to use her expertise to improve inclusivity in health and social research, ensuring all communities,  especially underrepresented ones, are accurately reflected in the data that shapes policies and treatment.

Alena credits both hard work and divine guidance for her success: “His love has been enough for me to manifest anything I desire to do, be, or become.”