Graduate Studies in the Arts and Sciences

Chukwuemeka A. Agbarakwe, Ratherfold Njanji, Lydia Randall, Charmaine Phiri and I met in Fall 2025 as classmates in the Global Health Policy & Management master's program, but somewhere between deadlines, group projects, and late-night check-ins, they became family. In the moments when grad school felt overwhelming, they showed up, with encouragement, laughter, honest feedback, and a quiet kind of care that reminded me I wasn’t alone. Their support has shaped not just my academic journey at Brandeis, but my personal life too; they have been the people who made hard days lighter and every small win feel shared. That kind of presence is rare, and it's been one of the greatest gifts of my time here.

My husband, Kamran Geshnizjani, is a PhD student in History. We were classmates for the first time 15 years ago, and now we find ourselves classmates again in the archives course—as if it were fate. With him here, I feel even more that Brandeis is my second home. He makes everything easier for me, and whenever I feel tired, he reminds me that it will get easier as I keep going. I am very lucky to have him in my life.

I find it nearly impossible to write just how much Marie means to me. They are my rock, my best friend, my PhD buddy, and the other half of our Supernova team. At Brandeis, we have always worked side by side: fighting for shared causes, advocating and supporting each other's work, sharing conference panels, co-designing and co-leading pilot programs, co-running interdisciplinary symposiums, and more. We read, edit, and write together in practices grounded in solidarity and accountability, and hold each other through love, grief, and care. Marie made my Brandeis experience one of the most profound spaces of safety, care, and love in my life. And if this sounds like a love letter, it is --Anna

I remember meeting Anna the first day of class at Brandeis, being slightly intimidated by her eloquence and her incredibly thoughtful contributions to the discussions. I felt in awe of how her inner fire would light any time she talked about fighting injustices and abuse. Throughout our residence, and now through this weird dissertating phase where life feels like passing through the seven circles of hell with crocodiles and spiders ambushing us at each step, Anna continues to be there for me in the most gentle yet firm way, soothing and supporting. While our Supernova team has achieved so much together and apart, we could never have done it without also acknowledging and holding each other in the grief and hurt, and through those days when everything falls apart. Anna created pockets of safety and love where everything felt scorched. And as she continues to rise, she holds me close, and we rise together. Her love, courage, and support feel like reaching a meadow with a waterfall after being surrounded by the desert for an eternity. Anna’s passion for change and justice is so powerful that it could transform a desert into a forest. I am so proud of how she relentlessly works to bring more justice into this world, and I am honored to be walking alongside each other -- Marie

I first met my roommates, Molecular and Cell Biology PhD student Mariko Tsuji and Neuroscience PhD student Audrey Jordan, at the start of our PhDs because we all needed a place to live. What started out as a convenient arrangement quickly flourished into  a beautiful, meaningful friendship that has profoundly impacted me. We convene almost daily around our kitchen table to debrief our days, give outfit advice, and laugh until we can't breathe. We have bonded over our love of purple, dancing, and the sorrows of TAing. They've seen me through major life changes, and I love them like sisters.

I met Anjila Pandey and Eunice Ingabire during orientation in Fall 2025, when we were all just starting to find our footing at Brandeis. What began as casual conversations quickly turned into shared ideas about how we could support one another and make the most of our time in the Global Health Policy & Management master's program. During orientation week, we talked about forming a small working group, an idea that later grew into Brandeis Global Health Alliance. Since then, Anjila and Eunice have been constant sources of support, great teammates to brainstorm with, work alongside, and navigate the ups and downs of graduate school. Their energy, thoughtfulness, and teamwork have made my Brandeis experience both enjoyable and meaningful. Proof that orientation week can lead not just to friendships, but to group chats, late-night planning, and collective panic before deadlines.