Archive Posts
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VIDEO: Supporting DFC Scholars on Their Road to a Bachelor's Degree
St. Thomas 2025 - Expand Pathways through the Dougherty Family CollegeDougherty Family College aims for its scholars, who graduate from the two-year college with an associate degree, to continue their academic journey for a bachelor's degree at a four-year institution, such as the main campus of the University of St. Thomas. With 95% of the scholars identifying as a person of color, many of them…
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In the News: Dougherty Family College Works to Close Educational Attainment Gap
University NewsInside Higher Education spoke with Dougherty Family College Dean Buffy Smith about how the two-year college is the University of St. Thomas’ solution to closing the achievement gap. She also discussed how its scholars are placed in paid internships, supported by a professional development curriculum within the first-year experience course. “If the educational attainment gap… -
Sights and Sounds: 2023 Dougherty Family College Commencement
University NewsWhen 2023 Dougherty Family College commencement speaker Ayoko Agbobly took the stage to address attendees, she had an air of confidence. Koko, as she is known to her friends, had come a long way from “the quiet kid in the front of the class who had so much to say but was too shy to… -
In the News: Dougherty Family College’s Investment in Student Success Pays Off
DFC NewsBuffy Smith, dean of Dougherty Family College (DFC) at the University of St. Thomas, recently spoke with Diverse: Issues in Higher Education about DFC’s unique educational model, the importance of removing barriers and providing culturally-sustaining curriculum for scholars from underrepresented communities. From the story: DFC’s approach is in line with recent research showing that student success requires a… -
In the News: Buffy Smith on 300 DFC Scholars Graduating Debt-Free
DFC NewsBuffy Smith, dean of Dougherty Family College (DFC) at the University of St. Thomas, recently spoke with WCCO about this year’s graduating class during a block party hosted by DFC. From the story: DFC offers a two-year associate degree program, enrolling predominantly minority and first-generation college students. By the time the students graduate, the goal… -
Unlocking Opportunity: 13 Dougherty Family College Students Awarded Full-Tuition Scholarships to St. Thomas
St. Thomas 2025 - Expand Pathways through the Dougherty Family CollegeLayla Siferllah-Griffin knows that someday she wants to open her own business. Full of ideas and perseverance, she has the dream and drive, but finding a path to achieve that reality has not always been so clear. As she prepares to graduate with an associate degree from Dougherty Family College at the University of St.… -
In the News: Dougherty Family College Makes Higher Education Possible for Underserved Students
In the NewsDougherty Family College scholars and their dean, Buffy Smith, recently spoke with KARE 11 for a story about the unique cohort model at DFC – a two-year college at the University of St. Thomas in downtown Minneapolis – and the importance of removing barriers for students from underserved communities to help them succeed in their… -
Cultivating STEM With DFC Scholars
St. Thomas 2025 - Expand Pathways through the Dougherty Family CollegeYou could almost see the light bulbs flashing. Today’s task for scholars at the brand-new Dougherty Family College STEM Club was to create an LED light, completely from scratch. That meant picking out their own blinking bulbs, prepping battery packs and melting metal joints together with a soldering iron at a temperature of more than… -
Podcast: Amir Mohamed on the Importance of Belonging
DFC NewsAmir Mohamed, communication and journalism professor at the University of St. Thomas Dougherty Family College, recently joined the “Come to Believe” podcast to discuss the importance of belonging on campus and in the classroom. Mohamed: “Culture is not just on a piece of paper. Part of what we’re doing and the culture we’re creating, and… -
Black Men Teach: Filling a Critical Gap
St. Thomas 2025 - Foster Belonging and Dismantle RacismFor University of St. Thomas elementary education major Brendon Sackey, today's math lesson was proving a unique challenge as a student teacher. His class of fourth graders at University Avenue Elementary in Blaine were supposed to be focusing on perpendicular and parallel lines. However, these young minds seemed all too aware that in a few…