Name pronunciation and pronouns:
Dan, /dæn/, he/him
Describe your academic background and areas of interest.
I received my associate’s degree in Political Science from Santa Barbara City College, and my bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. The concentration of my bachelor’s degree was forced migration and integration. I took classes in Political Science, Legal Studies, Sociology, Middle Eastern Studies, and Peace and Conflict Studies as part of my major coursework.
Describe your "exploring" experience as a student.
I began my undergraduate career as an exploring student at a community college and declared a major in Political Science after my first semester. Upon transferring to a 4-year university, I felt out of place in the Political Science department, which was the largest major on campus. A peer in a similar position told me about the Interdisciplinary Studies department, which allowed students to design their own major and take coursework that would inform a capstone thesis project. After working with an advisor to apply to the major, I was admitted! This allowed me to pursue coursework and research in my primary interest area of forced migration. Despite the difficulty of “not knowing” at times— I am grateful for my exploring journey!
What do you like to do when you are not advising?
love being outdoors! I enjoy hiking, backpacking, camping, and skiing. I also enjoy reading and participating in community service work. I am also a huge basketball fan! I love watching games at any level.