Enhancing University Learning Through the Lens of Sociology

Dyani Duphare's journey from being a student at Oberlin College to her current role as the Student Affairs Coordinator at Drexel University College of Medicine is a testament to the power of education and student support.

During her time at Oberlin, Duphare found herself drawn to the Peer Advising Leader (PAL) program. This program, designed to make the transition into college easier for students, created orientation programming for incoming students and connected them with a PAL who would support them throughout the semester.

Duphare's role in the PAL program involved supporting students, a task she found rewarding. Her experiences in the program helped her develop her ability to work with students, whether academically, socially, or emotionally. These skills proved to be invaluable when she was offered her current position at Drexel University College of Medicine.

Duphare's involvement with the PAL program was not her only contribution at Oberlin. She was also actively involved in reviving the Multiracial Students Association (MULTI).

Duphare's academic pursuit led her to sociology, a subject that offered her a way to learn about a lot of different things and focus on the niches she was interested in, such as global inequity, gender, sexuality, and feminist studies. Her sociology education focused on understanding the undercurrents of why things are the way they are and how people or groups interact with each other or institutions. This education has been beneficial for her position in student life.

Duphare believes her sociology background helps her identify broader issues in education and the student experience. Her experiences in the PAL program also contributed to her understanding of higher education programming.

In her current role at Drexel University College of Medicine, Duphare's main responsibilities include working with medical students and assisting student extracurricular organizations. She enjoys helping students navigate college, whether academically, socially, or emotionally, much like she did during her time in the PAL program at Oberlin.

Duphare's work in the PAL program is an example of how her sociology education can be applied in practical settings. Her journey from Oberlin to Drexel University College of Medicine is a testament to the transformative power of education and student support.

In addition to her work in student affairs, Duphare is also a freelance science journalist and speculative fiction author. She has written for reputable publications such as Strange Horizons, Inverse, National Geographic, The Washington Post, and Popular Science.