Graduate finds love for ancient languages, early Christianity at Binghamton

Dorian Wendler '24 always has felt moved to explore different pursuits, but hailing from a small town, he was limited in his opportunities.

It wouldn't be until he arrived at Binghamton University that he was able to take part in a myriad of academic and extracurricular interests. After considering four other majors, Wendler decided to pursue a double major in history and classical civilization, and he never looked back.

"My four years have been really good. I spent a lot of time exploring different majors," said the Malone, N.Y., native. "I got to use my time at Binghamton to explore everything that I wasn't able to explore in high school."

He discovered his love for studying ancient languages, notably ancient Greek and Latin, which aligns with his other academic interest in early Christianity. Studying Latin was not a career path that Wendler ever thought possible before he came to Binghamton.

"I ended up in history and classics, which is something I never thought I would have been able to do before," he said.

While exploring his interests, Wendler became a member of the Phi Alpha Theta honors society, a professional organization that promotes the study of history through research, publication, and sharing ideas among peers and professors.

"It's been really nice to have your work and major get recognized as part of an honor society," he said. "It's an accomplishment that I'm really proud of."

For Wendler, building a strong sense of community is very important and led him to a future career in student affairs. He has worked as a residential life advisor in the Hillside and Susquehanna communities since his sophomore year.

Although he earns his bachelor's degree this spring, Wendler is returning to Binghamton in the fall to pursue his master's in student affairs administration. His master's degree is fully funded through a scholarship, and he will continue working in ResLife as a graduate assistant.

"Even though I'm coming back as a grad student, I just feel like the undergrads here have such camaraderie," Wendler said. "There's just a certain sense of 'we're all in this together' that I'm really going to miss when I enter graduate school."

Wendler also offered advice to students who may come from similar backgrounds: Don't be afraid to reach out and see the possibilities that await you at Binghamton.

"I know it's really hard to take those first steps to step outside of that bubble, but once you do and start seeing what's out there, it can be very rewarding," he said. "Use your time at Binghamton to make the most of it and just explore, explore, explore."