Dean’s Medalist uses writing, literature to understand the human experience

Dahlia Horani is the walking embodiment of the adage: “if you love what you’re doing, you’ll do it well.”

The Arizona State University student is graduating from Barrett, The Honors College this spring with a 4.0 GPA and concurrent bachelor’s degrees in English (literature) and psychology, plus a minor in sociology. Horani has already been accepted into law school for next fall.

She seems to have found the key to success: She followed her interests while working hard. 

The Gilbert, Arizona, resident made practical use of ASU’s career preparation resources while delving into her passions: reading, language and understanding the human condition. She has connected what she learned in the classroom to what’s happening in the “real” world and is prepared to enter the workforce with this knowledge — which is, arguably, the ultimate goal of a liberal arts education.

Horani received a Research Internship Award, funded by an anonymous donor, for her work this semester with Regents Professor Devoney Looser. With an eye on the publishing industry experience it will give her, Horani is helping complete final edits and research for Looser’s book, “Wild for Austen,” forthcoming this September. Horani also held an internship with ASU’s highly regarded literary journal Hayden’s Ferry Review, where she reviewed submissions and assisted with copy editing, further developing her editorial expertise.

In addition to academic work and career preparation, Horani has been active both on campus and in the wider community. At ASU, she has been a member of the Muslim Student Association, the Psychology Engagement Team and the Pre-Law Society. Off campus, Horani works as a habilitation provider at Arizona Autism, helping children with autism develop their motor and communication skills. She has also taught Arabic at a Sunday school and interned with AmeriCorps at the Maricopa County Superior Court Law Library, where she assisted individuals navigating legal system procedures.

For her academic achievements, campus involvement and community service, Horani has been named The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Medalist in English.

The selection committee commended Horani for her stellar accomplishments, which included “utilizing her ASU education to create meaningful change.”

We caught up with Horani between flurries of activity to ask a few more questions about her time at ASU.

Question: What was your “aha” moment, when you realized you wanted to study in your field?

Answer: I’ve always loved reading and languages, so it felt like a natural choice to study English in college. I was already a psychology major at the time, but I figured I’d take a couple English classes or pursue a minor in the subject. I took my first English class of ENG 110: Language, the Self and Society, and it was deeply impactful. For the first time, I was surrounded by people who shared my love of reading and discussing language, and it felt like coming home.

In the class, we talked about linguistics, accents and the identity conflict second-generation Americans often feel between their native language and English. We discussed relevant issues in society through the lens of language and read pieces from different authors on their experiences. I ended up writing one of my favorite short stories for the final project, and when the semester ended, I knew I had to pursue a degree in English. I was able to meet so many incredible professors along the way and engage in thought-provoking discussions with my classmates that would resonate with me long after class ended.

Something I love that my classes helped me realize is that, at its core, literature is a study of the human experience. Authors write about every subject imaginable and create entire worlds through their words, and when you read, you can see how much of life is shaped by people’s stories. I’m fortunate to have gained insight into such a complex subject and earn a degree in a subject that I love.

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?

A: One concept I learned about that changed my perspective was reader response theory, which posits that the meaning of a text is not fixed or objective but rather something that is dependent on the reader’s unique interpretations and the life experiences they bring to it. This idea inspired me to pursue my honors thesis on Muslim representation in young adult literature, examining how a lot of books in the genre perpetuated harmful stereotypes about Muslims rather than representing their experiences, a topic I felt was not discussed often enough. I conducted this research under the guidance of (President’s Professor of English) James Blasingame, a leading expert in the field of young adult literature.

Q: Why did you choose ASU?

A: I wanted to go to a college locally, and ASU was a natural choice. My mom also went there for her bachelor’s, and she had great things to say about the campus and professors there.

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

A: I took classes from (Assistant Professor) Brandi Adams for two years, and she would always remind my class that our opinions mattered, that it was OK to critique Shakespeare and classic authors, even when they felt unapproachable. She encouraged us to never underestimate ourselves as undergraduates, emphasizing that our perspectives and ideas were valuable in the academic world. She pushed us to pursue any line of thinking we believed was important and to write about topics we were genuinely passionate about. If someone brought up a hip-hop song that connected with a book we were reading, she would tell them to write their paper on it and challenge them to dig deeper into those parallels.

In one class, we connected K-dramas with plays from the 1500s, and in another, we explored the concept of passing from the 1800s to the present day. Dr. Adams taught me to look at the world differently, to trust my ideas and to never shy away from making connections that might seem too ambitious but would ultimately turn out to be some of the best papers I’ve written. I will always be grateful to her for making my time at ASU so meaningful.

Q: How has pursuing multiple degrees complemented your academic experience and opportunities during your time at ASU?

A: I pursued concurrent degrees in psychology and English literature with a minor in sociology. These subjects worked really well together because I would learn the science behind human behavior and psychological disorders in my psychology classes and then read about people’s personal journeys with their mental health in my literature classes. Studying the same subject from different angles gave me a deeper understanding of everything I learned, allowing me to conduct deeper analyses and connect various concepts across my classes. For example, I wrote a paper on how the PTSD of war veterans affected their wives in the 1920s, using the texts of “Mrs. Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf and “Passing” by Nella Larsen. I also wrote a paper for my interpersonal relationships class analyzing a couple’s relationship in a fantasy novel through a psychological perspective.

Being a part of two different departments opened up more opportunities for me as well. Each department has its own resources to guide their students, and I was able to take advantage of both.

Q: How do you feel your degrees have prepared you for future career opportunities?

A: Both degrees helped me develop important skills like writing, analytical reading, critical thinking, problem-solving and research. I also had several creative projects that I had to present in class, which improved my public speaking and communication skills. These are all crucial in today’s job market and helped prepare me for my future career in law.

Q: Would you encourage other students to pursue multiple degrees? How did it impact your workload?

A: It really depends on the student’s circumstances. I came into college having finished my associate degree in high school, and since I knew I wanted to study psychology, I was able to complete the core requirements such as PSY 101 and statistics, basically finishing a year of college before I actually started. This gave me the opportunity to add another major to my workload and still graduate a year early. It was definitely stressful and a lot of work, and some semesters I was taking anywhere from 18-21 credits, but I’m ultimately glad I did it because I love both psychology and literature. 

Looking back, I wouldn’t trade the experiences and knowledge I gained from pursuing two degrees for a lighter workload. If a student is passionate about multiple subjects and feels confident they can manage the workload, a double major could be a great option.

Q: How do you feel this sets you apart from other candidates for jobs/careers?

A: It shows that you have a broader skill set, and you’re willing to work hard. I felt like it set me apart because it demonstrated that I’m knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects and that I can dedicate myself to any task that’s put in front of me.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: Take advantage of the resources ASU offers you. It’s something a lot of people say, but I don’t think they realize just how many opportunities are actually available to students. I was able to build my resume and gain experience by joining a research lab through the Psychology Department, finding an internship with AmeriCorps at one of ASU’s internship fairs and learning about another opportunity from the Department of English’s internship coordinator, Ruby Macksoud. I’ve been lucky to find so many opportunities, and it would’ve been much more difficult without the events and support ASU provides.

Q: What was your favorite spot for power studying?

A: I love going to different cafes to study. Having an iced latte and my laptop ready is great motivation for grinding out an assignment.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: I recently got accepted into Sandra Day O’ Connor Law School, and I’m excited to attend there in the fall!

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I would help build schools in countries that couldn’t afford it. I know how important education is and how it changes people’s lives, and I want to be able to help people get access to those opportunities. There are a lot of children in the world right now who can’t afford to go to school, and it’s heartbreaking to witness.