Theresa Dazey, 2013–2014 CAORC Pre-Doctoral Fellow
Theresa Dazey is an ACOR-CAORC Pre-Doctorate Fellow pursuing her research in Jordan between September 2013 and February 2014. Theresa studies the settlement of Circassian communities in the late 19th century, especially their relations with already-established Jordanian communities. Much of her research is conducted through informal interviews with the descendants of these original settlers. She also works on additional archival research regarding Circassian land tenure and involvement in formal litigation. One aspect of her research that has surprised her is how divergent the experiences of different Circassian communities have been, ranging from acceptance and treaties to disputes over crops and fear of outside influence.
After obtaining a B.S. in Physics at Haverford College, Theresa then shifted her focus to the Middle East and obtained an M.A. in Near Eastern Languages & Cultures from Indiana University. Currently she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern History with a minor in African History. Previously, Theresa participated in the CIEE summer intensive Arabic program, which brought ACOR to her attention, and she returned here to do her pre-dissertation work. She calls her time here at ACOR “a real treat,” and especially appreciates the academic and personal support that she has found here.
