Marijuana Pepsi Vandyck is a recent graduate of Wisconsins Cardinal Stritch University. And no, she doesnt like the soda or the drug.

Vandyck earned her Ph.D. last month in leadership for the advancement of learning and service in higher education, capping years of trying to prove herself despite her name .

People make such a big deal out of it, I couldnt get away from it, Vandyck told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Her dissertation topic, Black names in white classrooms: Teacher behaviors and student perceptions, was borne out of her personal experience as a black student with an uncommon name.