“People make such a big deal out of it, I couldn’t get away from it,” Dr Marijuana told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Her dissertation topic was: “Black names in white classrooms: Teacher behaviors and student perceptions,” a topic clearly informed by her own experiences.

She told the publication that she once challenged a professor who did that to her at Whitewater, saying they “didn’t ask anyone else that. Why are you asking me? My name is Marijuana, thank you.”

Some people refused to call Marijuana by her full name and attempted to opt for “Mary” instead, but Vandyck rejected such nicknames.

And even though some people blame her mom, who named her older and younger sisters the common names of Kimberly and Robin, Dr. Marijuana thinks that is why she is the strong entrepreneur that she is today.

Now she uses her story to inspire the students that she meets.

“I’ve grown into my name because I am a strong woman. I’ve had to be,” Vandyck told the “Today” show.

She is the director of the Beloit College program that serves students who are first generation enrollees, come from low-income families or have learning or physical disabilities. She is the owner of Action as Empowerment, a life strategy workshop, coaching and retreat business. She is a real estate agent.