Dharma S. (IN A NUTSHELL)

Hi, I'm Dharma! I'm a Harvard alum who currently lives in Paris, where I completed a Fulbright fellowship in literary studies following graduation. My current research examines the relationship between counterculture, incarceration, dictatorship, and exile in the global 60s. In particular, I'm fascinated by Spanish authors who fled Francoism to publish in France. But I'd say I'm equally obsessed with going to the movies, cooking dinner for my friends, participating in writing workshops, and spending as much time as possible outdoors. Languages, traveling, and immersing myself in new experiences have always been a central part of my life.

I grew up in a bilingual (Spanish/English) household in Chicago and attended a dual-language elementary school, located right next to Wrigley Field (Go Cubs!). In high school, I was the youngest member of a committee that sought to address issues of equity in Chicago Public Schools, following a slew of school closures in 2013 that disproportionally affected marginalized communities. In college, my passion for addressing issues of social justice developed further, and I was an active member of a variety of organizations that sought to address carceral justice. For two years, I co-taught writing classes in Boston correctional facilities, helping hundreds of students hone the craft of storytelling. My core belief is that words and language hold the power to impart real, social change.