Graduate Profile: Toby A. Cox, MTS '23

How I've Changed  

Early on in my first semester at HDS in 2021, I grabbed a blank index card and made a list of goals I had for my time at HDS. The title of the list is “I’m here to…” and consists of four bullet points written in gold sharpie: 1) learn about spirituality and climate change, 2) make something to continue making something, 3) meet and learn from people who are better and smarter than me, and 4) learn to write more accessibly about religion.

I taped this list to my desk, and for the past two years, it helped me stay grounded on days I felt disoriented. There was never a day I didn’t meet at least one of these goals. But all of these goals assume a sort of end point, when they are, in fact, ongoing. At the end of my first semester, about three months after making the initial list, I took out another blank index card and wrote in the same gold sharpie, “Points of Departure rather than Points of Arrival.” Professor Barakatullo Ashurov said this to me when he was consulting me on a final paper, and this phrase, I believe, will continue to guide me for years to come.

My professors and fellow classmates at HDS taught me to recognize value in the continuous and to not be so focused on finding answers that I miss important questions. This is changing my perspective of the world and how I approach my work as a journalist. 

Message of Thanks  

My experience at HDS wouldn’t have been possible without the strong support network built into HDS and my own personal support network. First, thank you to my fiancé, Kurtis, for his unwavering support, words of encouragement, and the many, many trips he took to Boston in the last two years so we could spend time together.

Thank you to my mom, dad, and sister, Tabby, for their support and love, even when hundreds of miles apart. And thank you to Kristin, Deena, and Jake for their continued friendship and always being just a phone call away.

At HDS, I would like to thank all of my professors and fellow classmates for challenging me to think in new and unexpected ways. Thank you Professor Barakatullo Ashurov for his overall mentorship and for encouraging me to think in terms of points of departure rather than arrival, challenging my assumptions, teaching me to always consider how space is occupied (or isn’t), and expanding my understanding of religion in Central Asia.

I would also like to thank Professor Giovanna Parmigiani for transforming my understanding of the senses in relation to ritual and Professor Healan Gaston, whose feedback and encouragement helped strengthen my writing and confidence to pursue new creative projects.

Outside of HDS, I would like to thank the Davis Center for supporting my studies and Professor Christina Maranci for introducing me to Armenia and its rich culture. I would also like to thank Emily Herring, Professor Seven Clancy, and Professor Liya Zalaltdinova for their Russian language instruction.

Thank you, Esedullah, for your continued friendship and the many library study sessions (with snacks!).

Thank you, Emily, for your continued friendship, thoughtfulness, and support.

Thank you, Julia, for always being down to discuss the latest reality TV gossip and for teaching me how to celebrate and embrace life’s special moments.

Thank you, Harriet, for our Tuesday morning ritual of sitting together in the library—it was informal but a cherished part of my week.

And to all of my fellow students, thank you for sharing with me new ways of seeing the world and pointing out connections I may never have noticed myself. I wish I could have gotten to know more of you and hope our paths cross again in the future. Congratulations! 

Future Plans 

Life after graduation means both personal and professional transitions. I’ll be moving back to Virginia and am looking forward to spending much needed time with family and friends. A new, exciting personal chapter will start in July, when I get to marry my partner and best friend, Kurtis. Then in the fall, I’ll be relocating to Yerevan, Armenia, for a nine-month research fellowship focused on native faith movements and alternative spiritualities. Professionally, I intend to continue pursuing journalism and writing opportunities.