Name: Syeda Rumana Mehdi
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
What is your hometown? Karachi, Pakistan
Program at BU? PhD in Anthropology (sociocultural track)
Please briefly introduce yourself, what’s your background, and where are you from?
I grew up on a university campus in Karachi, Pakistan where I remember being surrounded by books. When I was three years old, I had memorized the capital cities of nearly all countries in the world. Little did I know that my academic journey had just begun!
At the age of 19, I left Pakistan and moved to the US to start my undergraduate studies at Bennington College (Vermont). Following my graduation in 2018, with a BA in Liberal Arts, I moved back to Pakistan to work in the education sector. In 2019, I was awarded the Erasmus Mundus scholarship for a double Master’s in Women and Gender Studies and I was enrolled in the University of York (UK) and Universidad de Granada (Spain). During my Master’s, I was introduced to the works of numerous professors at BU and I began to dream about starting my PhD. 3 years and multiple PhD applications later, my dream has come true!
Why did you choose to come to BU GRS for your graduate degree?
One of my favorite professors, Dr. Noah Coburn, from my undergraduate alma mater, did his PhD in Anthropology at BU. With this connection, I knew that the PhD program in Anthropology does not just make informed social sciences, but also focuses on helping us become better versions of ourselves. My belief became stronger when I started my application at BU and got in touch with the professors here. They were all incredibly helpful, kind, and encouraging and I knew right away that this was where I needed to be! It makes me immensely happy that I’m now studying in the same dept as one of the best mentors that I’ve ever had.
What are your favorite spots on the BU Campus?
I don’t really have a favorite spot just yet, but I love my walks on campus in any and every direction!
What is your favorite part about attending BU and studying in the US?
My favorite part is the support that I’ve received from my professors, my classmates, and the general administration at BU. Everyone has been kind and accommodating, making adjusting to a new country much more effortless.
I have studied in the US before and, like last time, my favorite thing about studying abroad is the exposure that I get in terms of books. I love that I can read as much as I want and can really educate myself on all matters.
How is life in Boston?
Life in Boston teaches me new things every day. I live on campus; it’s really nice to be close to my department, the library, the gym, etc. Moving to Boston has taught me to take challenges head-on—I’m doing things that I had never done before, such as living by myself. I’ve also taken up old, forgotten passions such as biking and cooking. I’m making new connections, discovering new neighborhoods, and engaging with texts that I had not read before.
What do you hope to do after you graduate?
I hope to continue to do ethnographic research in Pakistan and teach at universities. Before starting my PhD at BU, I was teaching at Ziauddin University in Karachi and I really enjoyed teaching and working with university students. I hope to continue doing that for a very long time!