Sangha Niyogi, Ph.D.

Faculty - Social Science, Pleasant Hill Campus

Sangha Niyogi is Professor of Sociology at Diablo Valley College. She acquired her PhD. in Sociology from the University of California, Davis in March 2010 and has a Masters in International Relations from Bristol University, U.K. In graduate school she specialized in Race and Ethnicity and Immigration. She has presented at numerous conferences and published in the U.K. journals, Cultural Sociology and the Oxford Encyclopedia of American Social History. She is the initiator and co-director of the Social Justice Studies Major at Diablo Valley College. Dr. Niyogi is a proud member of the DVC Student Equity Committee. One of the most visible markers of this institutional level commitment to equity is the Equity Speaker Series. She is part of the sub-committee responsible for organizing the Equity Speaker Series. This year the sub-committee developed a theme titled, “Undoing Injustice,” and next year's theme is "Rise by Lifting" all with the hope of empowering our students to become change agents in their community. Dr. Niyogi is also a facilitator in the student clubs, DVC Roots and WOCA (Women of Color Association). She feels fortunate to have been given so many opportunities to empower students to recognize their inherent power to transform society. She wants to keep expanding her network of dedicated and progressive community members who are tirelessly striving to institutionalize the goals of equity and justice.

The Social Justice Major is coming at an opportune time when our nation’s sociopolitical climate is ripe for the mobilization and empowerment of our community members. Our goal in the next few years will include strategies such as aligning Social Justice Pathways with requirements at 4-year institutions; working to get students into Pathways earlier by introducing the option during the college’s summer bridge program, College Connect, College Now and within a new first-year experience or other learning communities such Umoja, Puente and EOP&S. We are also working on consolidating our community advisory board with organizations such as Planned Parenthood, Family Justice Center, Rainbow Community Center, Safe Returns Project and United Latino Voices. We will continue to work on connecting existing courses in the major and developing a new capstone course as a culminating project.