Behind the Bok: Dani Duke

October 27, 2021
Behind the Bok: Dani Duke

Each month we will profile a member of the Bok staff in order for our friends and colleagues to learn more about us, the full range of work that we do, how we approach our work, and what is happening in the world of teaching and learning from different perspectives.

Dani Duke, Program Coordinator

Q: What is your educational background?

A: I hold a BS in Human Services with a specialization in counseling psychology from Northeastern University.

Q: What else did you do or consider doing before coming to work at the Bok Center?

A: This role is my first full time job after graduating from college. While in college, I did co-ops at The Migrant Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and at Transition House in Cambridge (the east coast’s first domestic violence shelter), where I then continued to work for the following two years. I also worked at Kendall Square Cinema and volunteered at Samaritans. After graduating and while looking for a full time job, I did some work for my partner who is a photographer.

Q: What do you like best about working at the Bok Center?

A: I have really enjoyed being pushed out of my comfort zone to learn new skills. My colleagues have encouraged me to do more with photography and graphic design, and I even dipped my toes into some basic coding. I appreciate the commitment to teaching, learning, collaborating, and reflecting at the Bok Center at large, as well as the Learning Lab's emphasis on the idea that everyone can and should learn tools without needing to be an expert.

Q: What is one of your favorite books, films, or songs?

A: I’ve worked at two cinemas in my life and really love film, so it feels impossible to narrow down and give just one! But 2017 was a particularly fruitful year of adding to my favorites list - The Square (Ruben Östlund), I Am Not a Witch (Rungano Nyoni), and The Florida Project (Sean Baker). I also have to bring in the more current but fantastic TV shows I May Destroy You and Tuca and Bertie. And one of my favorite books is They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib.