Amanda Curtin Soydan, Ph.D.

Academic Dean for first-generation/low-income (FGLI) students, Director of the SPIRE Fellow Program, Assessment Committee for the New Curriculum.

 

Ph.D., Bioscience and Biotechnology, Drexel University

Born and raised in South Africa, I became the first in my family to attend university. I earned a B.S. in Zoology and Geology, followed by a B.S. Honors in Palaeontology and an M.S. in Zoology from the University of Stellenbosch. Subsequently, I completed my Ph.D. in Biological Sciences and Technology at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.

Throughout my postgraduate journey, I've been dedicated to teaching biology courses. Working with students from diverse backgrounds and varying academic levels has been particularly fulfilling. My passion for paleobiology led me to Duke University, where I conducted postdoctoral research on the evolution of dwarfism in mammoths and elephants under the guidance of Dr. V. Louise Roth.

As a biologist, my research focuses on understanding the dynamics and evolution of animal populations. I explore how ecological factors such as diet and climate influence aging, growth strategies, and life-history evolution, primarily through skeletal analysis. I also investigate how annual growth and population age structure can be interpreted from other hard tissues.

In addition to research, I am deeply involved in STEM education. My interest in learning sciences and student development blossomed during my tenure as Senior Learning Consultant and STEM Learning Specialist at Duke's Academic Resource Center (ARC). I contributed to critical thinking assessment research and co-created the successful SAGE program. As a Researcher and Data Analyst in the Office of Undergraduate Education Research alongside Dr. Molly Weeks, I conducted valuable student development research.

I am committed to inspiring, mentoring, and supporting students, especially those from underrepresented and minoritized communities pursuing STEM pathways.