Graduate Student Spotlight | Lori Duke

I earned my undergraduate degree in sociology and women’s studies from Brooklyn College in 1980, the inaugural year of both the women’s studies and Afro American studies departments, an experience that deeply shaped my intellectual and professional life. That interdisciplinary education fueled two decades of work as the owner and operator of a feminist newspaper focused on theory, grassroots organizing and social change. Life unfolded in many directions, including becoming a parent, and watching my children pursue advanced degrees renewed my own love of learning. Encouraged by them, I returned to school and am now in my second year of the master’s program in humanities at Hood College, where I continue to explore how we interpret and make meaning of the world.

The study abroad program in the French Caribbean was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, thoughtfully curated by Professor Morse Jones and Professor Algazi Marcus with an emphasis on deep immersion in Creole culture. Pre-departure readings grounded us in the history of Guadeloupe and Martinique, while the program connected us directly with leading thinkers and artists in cuisine, history, visual and performing arts, and environmental science. Learning from people who live and shape the culture daily made the experience intellectually rich and profoundly human, transforming abstract ideas into lived understanding.

Hood College supported this experience through intentional program design, rigorous academic preparation and faculty leadership rooted in care and expertise. Professor Morse Jones and Professor Algazi Marcus created an itinerary that balanced scholarship with cultural engagement and guided a diverse group of students with grace, humor and attentiveness. Their ability to meet individual needs while fostering a shared sense of inquiry and connection reflected a deep institutional commitment to experiential learning done with purpose.

Studying abroad sharpened my understanding of post-colonial power structures and the enduring legacy of colonization, particularly in the French Caribbean where political, economic and media dominance remain deeply entrenched. The experience reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary analysis and challenged U.S.-centered narratives, especially around slavery and resistance. It strengthened my critical thinking, expanded my global perspective and deepened my confidence in using humanities-based frameworks to analyze complex historical and contemporary systems.

One of the most powerful moments was visiting the Slave Memorial Museum, which situates slavery as a global and ongoing system rather than a closed historical chapter. Equally moving was our dance workshop with Léna Blou, Doctor of Anthropology of Dance, who taught us Gwoka by grounding movement in history, trauma, resistance and survival. Through dance as embodied memory, I experienced how culture preserves truth and resilience, leaving an emotional and intellectual imprint that remains with me.

I would encourage students to approach study abroad with intention, preparation and humility by learning the language, studying the history in advance and engaging with openness and respect. When done well, studying abroad is not simply travel or coursework, but a lifelong way of learning through connection and accountability. This experience taught me how to travel well and how deeply transformative immersive education can be, shaping not only what you know, but how you move through the world.

Inspired by Lori’s story? Ready to #GOFURTHER in your career? Learn more about Hood College's graduate programs, including the humanities M.A.