Meet Reem Hazboun Taşyakan

Tell us a bit about your background: I first entered the UCSD Literature PhD program in Fall of 2019. I conduct research on the sociopolitical significance of contemporary Arab American novels. I also write fiction and poetry, often drawing from my life experiences in doing so and tying in themes related to my Palestinian Arab heritage. I am originally from Fulton, New York, but have gradually moved westward since completing my initial years of college on the East Coast. I have called both Southern Arizona and Southern California home (along with Syria, for an interval), but I'll always feel pulled toward the tall trees, plentiful waters, and changing seasons of the American Northeast.

What are you studying/researching? My dissertation investigates the ways that form and content converge in post-9/11 Arab American novels to de-essentialize that literature and unsettle its minority classification. The project considers a set of novels that center the experiences of Arabs and Muslims in America while speaking to sociopolitical issues relevant both within and beyond those communities. 

Describe your involvement in the UC San Diego community. Since 2020, I have been on the editorial staff of UCSD's literary translation journal, Alchemy. I served as its editor-in-chief from 2022-2024, publishing several of the recent issues, including "Autonomy," "Layers," and "Revolutions." 

Why did you choose UC San Diego? I chose the UCSD Literature doctoral program because of its global focus, diverse faculty, and comprehensive and inclusive coursework.

Have you been awarded any fellowships or grants during graduate school?

During my time at UCSD, I have been honored with several fellowships and awards, including the following: