UC Davis Grad Slam Finalist: Nahrain Rasho
Meet Nahrain Rasho,
Political Science Graduate Student and Grad Slam Finalist
Name
Nahrain S. Rasho
Program and Degree
Political Science, Ph.D. Program, 5th year
Previous Degree(s) and College(s)
Master of Art in Political Science, Loyola University Chicago
Bachelor of Art in Political Science, University of Illinois at Chicago
Research Interests
Political institutions and ethnic conflict, ethnic politics, nationalism, civil violence and wars, federalism, and regional autonomy
Grad Slam Presentation Title
Regional Autonomy and Local Conflict
Describe your presentation style in three words.
Passionate, informative, and enticing.
What did you do to prepare for Grad Slam?
I attended the Grad Slam information session at UC Davis. I studied the presentation styles of those who won the Grad Slam in previous years. I practiced several times with my colleagues and friends outside of academia.
What initially attracted you to your field of study?
My upbringing as a daughter of Assyrian refugees from Iraq informs my interest in ethnic violence. I have always been interested in studying ethnic conflict and the policies designed to resolve tensions between groups.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to travel, do yoga, journal, go on bike rides, and catch up with friends and family.
If you could invite one person (from any point in history) to sit in the audience and view your presentation at the March 13 Final Round, who would it be and why?
I'd invite my parents. They would be very proud to see me use my platform to raise awareness about minorities in the Middle East.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Researching and teaching on policy that responds to local ethnic communities in the Middle East and the United States.
Cheer on Nahrain and the other nine finalists at the UC Davis Grad Slam Final Round on March 13.
Sign up via Eventbrite and like and follow the UC Davis Graduate Studies Facebook page to tune into the live stream.
About Grad Slam
UC Grad Slam is an annual contest in which master’s and Ph.D. students across UC campuses – in disciplines ranging from hard sciences to humanities – compete to sum up their research for a general audience. Students should present the significance and fundamental points of their work at UC Davis in a clear, direct, and interesting manner.
Presentations should be no longer than three minutes in length and prepared for a diverse audience comprised of students, faculty, and community members. Judges will strongly consider clarity and effectiveness of the presentation by a general university audience.
Learn more by visiting the Grad Slam webpage.
About Graduate Studies
Graduate Studies at UC Davis includes over 100 dynamic degree programs and a diverse and interactive student body from around the world. Known for our state-of-the-art research facilities, productive laboratories and progressive spirit – UC Davis offers collaborative and interdisciplinary curricula through graduate groups and designated emphasis options, bringing students and faculty of different academic disciplines together to address real-world challenges.
UC Davis graduate students and postdoctoral scholars become leaders in their fields: researchers, teachers, politicians, mentors and entrepreneurs. They go on to guide, define and impact change within our global community.
For information on Graduate Studies’ current strategic initiatives, visit the Graduate Studies strategic plan page.