Asian Studies - Student Spotlight

Arturo Jaras Watts
Major: Economics
Minors: Mathematics, Asian Studies

Extracurricular activities: Founder and President of the Proactive Investment Club, Resident Assistant, Champions Mentoring Program, Campus Sustainability Committee.

What has been your favorite Asian Studies class and why? My favorite Asian Studies course has been “Buddhism” with Dr. Ronald M. Davidson. This course was absolutely filled with intellectually stimulating ideas about life and existence. It was the most successfully interdisciplinary course I’ve ever taken, integrating insight from fields of anthropology, history, art history, physics, philosophy, religious studies, sociology, and so on. This course introduced me to a wide variety of perspectives that challenged my worldview and permanently altered my thinking. Put simply, this course embodied everything a liberal arts education ought to offer.

What do you plan to do following graduation? Will it connect to Asian Studies? After graduation I plan to delve into the world of social business. I believe that socially oriented businesses have great potential to address our world’s most pressing challenges. I am particularly interested in the intersection of financial investments and social change, which is why I started the Proactive Investment Club on campus. I plan to pursue graduate studies in finance and economics with a focus on socially impactful investing - and given the increasingly globalized financial markets of the world, there is a very good chance that this will connect to Asian studies. A better understanding of world cultures and economies will absolutely help me serve as a more effective agent of change in society.

Julia Cunico
Major: Politics
Minor: Asian Studies

"When I started in the politics program at Fairfield University, I took courses in American government, based on my high school experience with Junior State of America and summer university-level courses. Soon after, I enrolled in Intro to European Politics, which opened the door to a new interest - international politics. Since then, my focus has shifted to Asian studies, now my second major. As president of Fairfield University's Model UN Team, I use my coursework to defend my arguments and challenge points of view. After I graduate, I'll pursue advanced degrees in political science or international relations, with a concentration in Asia. The courses offered in the Asian Studies Program have challenged me to think critically and have reshaped the way I look at the world."