Dr. Buffy Smith on centering scholars’ wellbeing and the Ohana experience at the Dougherty Family College

Buffy Smith, Ph.D. is a sociologist, educator, and consultant. She earned her B.A. in Sociology at Marquette University and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is the dean of Dougherty Family College and professor of Sociology at the University of St. Thomas. She joins Sheletta to talk about the assistance she and the Dougherty Family College provided to their scholars amidst the government shutdown and the pause of SNAP benefits. This isn’t the first time the college and Dougherty Family have offered support for their students. Dr. Smith talks about the “Ohana experience” they embody at the DFC and what that means for their learning community.