What do you Love about your major?

I love the tight-knit community in the Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures Department and the mentorship I’ve received from my peers and faculty. There are so many opportunities in MELC for support and networking, as well as fellow passionate language students with a range of interests and areas of research!

Where do you call Home?

I am from Renton, Washington, and I currently live here with my family. For the last three years, I have also represented the Renton Municipal Arts Commission as the student commissioner. Our work includes funding local creative projects and businesses, awarding grants to underfunded Renton schools and hosting arts and cultural events across Renton for families. My illustration We Are Renton, inspired by the 87 languages spoken in the school district, has been turned into a public art installation in downtown Renton.

What do you study? What is your area of interest? Why did you choose this?

I am majoring in Middle East Studies with a concentration in the Persian language and minoring in Art History. My interest in Middle East Studies was inspired by a summer intensive Persian class I took at UW during high school, where I learned how to read, write, and speak elementary Persian. Since then, with the support of the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship and the Naficy Award in Persian studies, I have been able to continue Persian at UW to the advanced level. I am interested in contemporary Iran and using my Persian skills to volunteer with local Iranian and Afghan communities in Seattle.  As for Art History, I have had a lifelong passion for the subject and want to continue my work in the municipal arts sector after I graduate, contributing to public education and creating opportunities for local artists.

Do you have a faculty mentor? If so, whom?

I have several MELC faculty mentors, including my professors Shahrzad Shams, Aria Fani, Elham Monfaredi, and fellow MELC major, Caro Reed-Ferrara. Ms. Shams and Elham have both been my elementary and intermediate Persian professors and supported my language studies. Aria has been highly encouraging about my art practice and his coursework has inspired several pieces of my art. Caro is a current graduate student in the MELC department and has offered me support through letters of recommendation during their time as my TA.

Have you studied abroad? If so, where.? Tell us a little bit about the experience.

No, I have not studied abroad. If I were to study abroad, I would be interested in visiting Sonora, Mexico, where my grandfather was born just after the Mexican Revolution. My grandfather was the first Mexican American to earn a PhD in clinical psychology, and his story of academic excellence continues to inspire me.

Where is your favorite place to study on campus?

I love studying at the new Boon Boona Coffee location in the University Book Store. Boon Boona is an exclusively African Coffee Roaster and local business based in my hometown. My artwork is currently on display in the café, and I had an amazing opportunity to connect with the CEO, Efrem Fesaha, while putting my art up. I always order an iced matcha latte with lavender syrup!

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the UW thus far?

I volunteer for a non-profit organization called Peyvand that was established by the UW Persian and Iranian Studies Program and directed by my professor, Shahrzad Shams. Peyvand creates a safe environment for local Iranian and Afghan families to meet and inspire pride for their heritage in the younger generation.  My most recent project for Peyvand has been illustrating and designing posters celebrating Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, for the King County Library System this past spring. Another poster display of my design was shown at the Washington State Capitol Building during the celebration of Nowruz with the House and Senate representatives after a speech from Governor Jay Inslee about the holiday.

What advice would you give to a new student in the humanities?

Some advice I would give is to not feel confined by your major of field of study. For example, although I am a Middle East Studies student, I have been able to cultivate a space for myself as an artist alongside my schoolwork. I have earned more than one million likes on my art Instagram page in the past several months where I post my illustrations online. This year, my artwork has been exhibited at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, Washington State Capitol Building, King County Library System, local businesses in Seattle, as well as the Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures office in Denny Hall. I often include Persian calligraphy in my illustrations, and this spring I collaborated with the iconic Capitol Hill bookstore, Elliott Bay Books, to create an illustration to be used in their new merchandise launch inspired by the beloved poet Forough Farrokhzad

Anything else you would like to share about your experience as a humanities student?

I have observed that there is an undervaluing of language and humanities degrees in higher education. As an intermediate Persian language student, people are often confused by my studies at UW. I have been told that learning a new language is useless, and I was discouraged from dedicating my education to learning Persian while I was in high school. These conditions create a barrier to promoting humanities, cross-cultural exchange, and language learning in an academic environment that is increasingly focused on maximizing one’s profits from a university degree, often in the fields of STEM. I find that now more than ever we need humanities-focused thinkers in all public and government spaces to implement socially conscious practices. It is important to support students at UW who are pursuing language and cultural studies and their departments.