Dan Cochran, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor, Literature and Writing
Hometown
Chicago, Illinois
What attracted you to Arrupe College?
Arrupe's mission immediately resonated with me. I believe every student deserves access to a rigorous education and a faculty who genuinely believe in their potential. Arrupe combines academic excellence with a deep commitment to cura personalis, care for the whole person, and that aligns perfectly with my own philosophy of teaching. I wanted to be part of a community where relationships matter, where students are challenged to think critically, and where education is viewed as a pathway to opportunity, leadership, and service.
Talk a little about the classes you teach.
I teach first-year writing, introduction to literature, and African American literature. In my writing courses, students develop the skills to conduct research, analyze evidence, and communicate ideas with clarity and confidence. My literature courses introduce students to the richness and diversity of Black literary traditions and explore how literature intersects with history, culture, politics, and identity. Across all of my classes, I encourage students to ask thoughtful questions, engage respectfully with different perspectives, and connect what they learn in the classroom to the world around them.
How did you get involved in teaching?
I didn't originally set out to become a college professor. During my doctoral studies at Illinois State University, Professor Ricardo Cruz and Dr. Nancy D. Tolson had a tremendous influence on my academic and professional journey. As professors of African American Literature, they not only deepened my appreciation for the field but also recognized potential in me that I had not fully recognized in myself. They challenged me to become an exceptional scholar while reminding me that education carries a responsibility to serve others. Their example and encouragement to give back through teaching and mentorship ultimately inspired me to pursue a career in higher education.
It is especially meaningful that I now teach African American Literature, the very discipline through which Professor Cruz and Dr. Tolson helped shape my intellectual curiosity and love of scholarship. Every time I step into the classroom, I carry forward the lessons they taught me: to challenge students, to support them, and to believe in their potential. My hope is that, just as they invested in me, I can inspire my students to discover their own voices and recognize the impact they can have on their communities and beyond.
What’s your favorite part about teaching? And the biggest challenge?
My favorite part of teaching is watching students discover confidence in themselves. Some arrive believing they're "not good writers" or that literature isn't for them, and over the course of a semester they begin to find their voice, think more critically, and realize they're capable of much more than they imagined. Those moments are incredibly rewarding.
The biggest challenge is recognizing that many of our students are balancing college with work, family responsibilities, and other significant demands. My responsibility is to maintain high academic expectations while creating a classroom where students feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to persevere. Seeing them overcome those obstacles and succeed is one of the greatest privileges of my career.
Explain in your own words how Arrupe is "ACHIEVABLE. ACCESSIBLE. AFFORDABLE."
To me, those three words reflect Arrupe's commitment to removing barriers without lowering expectations. Achievable means students are given the support, mentorship, and academic resources they need to succeed. We challenge students to think critically and strive for excellence, but they never have to navigate that journey alone. Accessible means opening doors for students who may have believed higher education was beyond their reach. Small class sizes, dedicated faculty, individualized advising, and a strong sense of community ensure that students are known, supported, and encouraged throughout their college experience. Affordable means making a transformative education financially attainable. By reducing the financial burden of college, Arrupe allows students to focus more on learning, growing, and preparing for their future rather than being overwhelmed by the cost of earning a degree. Together, these three principles create an environment where students are empowered to discover their potential, develop confidence in their abilities, and recognize that higher education can be both rigorous and attainable.
Education
Illinois State University (BA, MS, PhD)
Research Interests
My research explores African American literature, Black cultural studies, literacy, rhetoric, and the power of storytelling to shape identity and social change. As an educator, I'm especially interested in what I call Liberation Through Literacy—the idea that reading, writing, and critical thinking empower students to better understand themselves, engage their communities, and create meaningful change. Whether we're analyzing a novel, a speech, or a contemporary film, my goal is to help students see literature and writing not simply as academic subjects, but as tools for lifelong learning and personal growth.
Courses Taught
- ACWRI 105 College Writing I
- ACRWI 110 College Writing II
- ACENG 110 Interpreting Literature
- ACENG 282 African American Literature