Alumni Stories: Jennifer Darling '02
When I entered Dartmouth, I thought I was going to be an Engineering Physics major and go on to live the life of, well, Dilbert. But being in an academic environment like Dartmouth changed my perspective.
[more]When I entered Dartmouth, I thought I was going to be an Engineering Physics major and go on to live the life of, well, Dilbert. But being in an academic environment like Dartmouth changed my perspective.
[more]I can't tell you how many times in my adult life I have received odd looks from people when I tell them I majored in Religion at Dartmouth. People just don't expect it and seem to have trouble understanding it beyond the typical "did you want to be a minister/pastor/priest?" Despite those awkward moments I wouldn't change my decision on my major for anything. I have found that my Dartmouth education and my Religion major have served me well in my life, both professionally and personally.
[more]I recall thinking, as an undergrad, that Religion was interesting and unique because it was a prism through which I could explore the liberal arts broadly. It provided a coherent excuse to take courses related to Philosophy, Anthropology, History, and Sociology, all under one roof. I now have an MBA and a JD, and I work in biotechnology with MDs and PhDs---all a far cry from Mahayana Buddhism or Spinoza--but I still find myself thinking about Turner's "Betwixt and Between," among many other great readings.
[more]Growing up, faith (and doubt) were important parts of my evolving identity. Studying religion helped me figure outmy own belief system (agnostic, unaffiliated, and humble, like so many who have studied world religions closely).Majoring in religion was originally a way to "round-out" my intended pre-med studies. Instead, I left the pre-medtrack and used my religion as the perfect lens through which to view liberal arts content that intrigued me:philosophy, science, feminism, ethics, and language. Having Professors Oden and Henricks for Religion 101 played
[more]Assistant Professor of Religion Zahra Ayubi has received a grant from the Greenwall Foundation's Faculty Scholars Program in Bioethics to continue her research on the intersections of bioethics, gender, and religion within the context of Islam.
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