Meet Transfer Alumna Malkie Dyman
Malkie Dyman graduated from JCU in 2022 with a B.A. in Political Science and a Minor in Humanistic Studies. She completed her Master’s in Fashion Management and Luxury Business at Rome Business School and spent a year studying at Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. Malkie works as Social Media Coordinator for a wig company called “TaglessWigs” and for the Birthright Israel Foundation, which organizes trips to Israel for young Jewish adults.
Tell us about your background.
I am originally from Moscow, Russia. When I was a teenager, I participated in intellectual competitions, including the International Philosophy Olympiad in 2018 and 2019. My family always worked towards providing as many opportunities as possible for me to study abroad, which I did in 2018 and 2019 when I participated in an exchange program in the United Kingdom. This experience further encouraged me to make the decision to study abroad and eventually transfer to JCU.
What made you decide to transfer to JCU?
It was the beginning of COVID-19 when I decided to transfer to JCU. I liked the fact that the University helps students engage as much as possible with academic work and research. It’s a place where students form personal connections with the professors and staff, instead of getting lost in the crowd.
You hold a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Humanistic Studies. What made you decide to combine the two disciplines?
I find that this is a perfect combination that allows me to get hands-on professional experience while also doing serious academic research.
What JCU classes and/or professors impacted you the most and why?
Although every professor impacted me in various ways at JCU, I would specifically point out Professors Isabella Clough Marinaro and Pamela Harris. They were my advisors for the final thesis, which was one of the most challenging and fulfilling experiences I had at JCU. In a nutshell, Professors Harris and Marinaro taught me how to learn and be able to understand academic texts in a very deep way.
While at JCU, you were the President of the Slavic Cultural Club. How did this experience enrich you?
This was an initiative that some students tried to launch almost 10 years ago, yet the club stopped its activities before I came to JCU. One of the main points in our mission statement was cultural inclusivity – we wanted all students from Eastern Europe or the post-Soviet block to feel welcomed and represented. We had students from all around, from Poland to Mongolia.
For me, this club, this community, was something very needed in my life. Starting college is a huge adjustment for everyone, no matter what your level of mental and physical preparation is (even for me as a transfer student). And the lack of a community to get connected to is a big part of the challenges that new students face. Therefore, our main goal was to provide this welcoming community to every new student interested. Hopefully, this goal was achieved or started to be achieved.
What were the main challenges and rewards of creating and running a new student club?
One of the main challenges of our organization was promoting the club to and engaging the non-Slavic students at JCU. Of course, our club is focused on Eastern European students and everyone interested in the cultural, linguistic, and diversity of such students, but we also wanted to engage a bigger population at JCU. We have had people from all over the world coming to the organization and enjoying being a part of the community. Cultural clubs are truly blessings in disguise for the entire student body because they benefit not only larger audiences but everyone who might be interested in learning more about different cultures and seeking connection and a sense of community.
What are your plans for the future?
Right now, I am working as a content maker and digital product manager, and although that’s a turn in my career I did not anticipate, I am very excited about the perspectives and opportunities that the future holds.
