Graduate Profile: Alyjan Daya, MTS '23

Favorite Class or Professor 

This is a tough question. It would be a tie between Dr. Goudarzi's seminar "The Emergence of Islam: Contours and Controversies" and Dr. Stang's seminar "Neoplatonism." Dr. Goudarzi's class delved into the birth of Islam in the seventh century C.E. We explored questions surrounding the role of the Prophet Muhammad, the origins of the Qur'anic text, and the intellectual traditions of early Muslim communities. The course offered an in-depth discussion of these historiographic issues, allowing us to engage with early Islamic literary and documentary sources as well as seminal scholarly works. Dr. Stang's seminar provided a close reading of the Enneads of Plotinus. Through a meticulous analysis of Plotinus' work, we delved into the complex philosophical ideas and metaphysical concepts that have come to define the Neoplatonic tradition. Dr. Stang's passion for the subject matter and his ability to elucidate and contextualize Plotinus' often challenging ideas made the class both intellectually stimulating and accessible. 

Message of Thanks  

There are several individuals who I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to, as they have played a significant role in my academic journey at Harvard. I am especially grateful to Dr. Goudarzi, Dr. Stang, and Dr. Patton, who not only provided exceptional instruction in their respective courses but also offered invaluable advice and support along the way. Their passion, guidance, and support have truly made a lasting impression on my academic experience, and I am forever grateful. 

Future Plans 

I will be continuing in my career as a software engineer. While I am still deciding on whether I want to continue my studies in a doctoral program, I do hope to make that decision soon and plan to continue to work on my Arabic, Persian, and Syriac language skills as I prepare to potentially enter a program in fall 2024.