Department of Education

Hometown: Weston, MA    
Education: Furman University, Bachelor of Arts in Music and Urban Studies Class of 2020   

Sophia Eleni Daphnis, originally from Massachusetts, graduated from Furman University in Greenville, SC with her BA in Music and Urban Studies. Sophia studied violin as an undergraduate, performing in chamber groups and with the symphony. Her experience as a classically trained musician was years in the making, in fact studying since elementary school at the Rhode Island Philharmonic School of Music. As an Urban Studies double major, she enjoyed the interdisciplinary coursework and a growing sense of the importance of the arts in academia began to form. 

Sophia began her career directing funding strategies and support for critical transitional services and advocacy programs for previously incarcerated individuals in South Carolina.  Her experience in grassroots non-profit development was centered in an inner-city neighborhood beset with generational poverty and crime. This experience provided Sophia with an understanding of the long-term impact of gaps in learning, and barriers that prevented equitable access to educational opportunities.  

Sophia’s current role in BioMed Advancement at Brown University aligns deeply with her passion for education, policy, and creating opportunities. After completing the UEP, Sophia hopes to create, evaluate and fund sustainable education programs, with an emphasis on pathways to higher education, music, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities.