Serendipity and Scholarship: Risa Sodi’s Journey Through Italian Jewish History and Academic Success

In this fascinating episode of "Yale College Voices," host Darice Corey sits down with Risa Sodi, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for Yale College, to embark on an enlightening discussion that spans Risa's impressive career and rich personal story. Listeners are invited into a realm where academic administration intersects with personal passion, highlighting how one's journey through education can shape and redefine their professional and personal life.

Risa reflects on the early days at Yale when she worked in the Italian department, recounting the pivotal role mentors played in her career. Their support was instrumental in her transition from a traditional academic role into broader teaching and advising capacities. Alongside sharing her career progressions, Risa delves into the hindsight discovery of life's unpredictable twists, including meeting her husband during her transformative junior year abroad in Florence—a chapter that fundamentally altered her life's trajectory.

Risa shares details of her multifaceted adventures during over 35 years at Yale. From directing advising programs and being the first to explore Jewish Italy academically at Yale to founding a summer abroad program and creating balance between early career challenges and personal responsibilities. Risa's story is one of growth, adaptation, and profound resilience. The conversation also touches upon her significant contributions to Yale's non-traditional student programs, including the ever-growing Eli Whitney Students program and initiatives supporting veterans. Her work leading the Eli Whitney Students Program has earned her notable accolades including, in 2023, a Linda Lorimer Award.

Risa's academic contributions extend into the realm of Italian Holocaust literature, where she has championed lesser-known narratives and female perspectives. Throughout the episode, the importance of learning through mistakes, the value of asking questions, and the acknowledgment of imposter syndrome as a common, yet conquerable, experience at Yale are recurrent themes. Risa’s blend of professional insights and personal anecdotes offers listeners a fascinating glimpse into the heart of educational leadership and the undeniable impact of empathy and connection within academic circles. This episode is a compelling testament to embracing unexpected opportunities and the lifelong journey of discovery and self-improvement.

Podcast Host: Darice Corey | Senior Director of Web and IT Planning | Yale College Dean’s Office DEIB Advisory Committee Co-Chair

Podcast Guest: Risa Sodi | Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Director of Advising and Special Programs

Video/Podcast Producer: Ryan McEvoy | Yale Broadcast Studio

Social Media Team and Content Creators:

Esther Donald Mwakisambwe ’25 | Yale School of the Environment

Thomasine Harris Fletcher ’25 | New Haven Promise Intern | Quinnipiac University

Parasmani Pandey ’25 | New Haven Promise Intern | Brandeis University

Kevin Sarango ‘25 | New Haven Promise Intern | UCONN