ALO Newsletter

Seventh Edition: March 16, 2015 

Featured Member: Alexandra Robinson '15

Hi! My name is Alexandra Robinson I’m currently in my last semester at Elon. When I first arrived on campus I was unsure about what I wanted to do, but after talking Elementary Arabic, I quickly fell in love with the language and the culture of the people who speak it. It was then that I also realized in order to fully understand Arabic and the Middle East it was necessary to learn about the various religions in the surrounding regions. Now, I am an International Studies and a Religious Studies double major with a concentration in the Middle East. After several courses I got the opportunity to utilize my Arabic skills and Islamic studies knowledge, while studying abroad in Jordan last spring. Studying abroad in Jordan was an illuminating experience that combined my various academic studies. Before my trip to Jordan I had been conducting research examining the intersections of religious identity and Muslim women in the US. While abroad I got to add another dimension to my research, a comparative study. Learning about different societies and languages from a textbook does not compare to being fully immersed in the culture. This research uncovered a new passion for me: human rights. Like dominos, every opportunity that I have had at Elon has led to a further understanding of my academic interests and career passions.  I am interested mostly in using Arabic in a scholarly capacity, conducting ethnographic research in areas where Arabic is spoken. Max Muller said, "He who knows one religion, known none." This hold true with languages as well. With graduation close on the horizon, I still do not know my future plans, but I want to continue researching the ways in which religions shape all aspects of life.