Anthony Zainyeh

Majors: Economics, Philosophy, and Political Science
Minors: Mathematics and Classical Civilization
Hometown: Jamestown, RI

Q. What makes the College of Arts and Sciences at URI unique?

A. The College of Arts and Sciences at URI provides a robust academic foundation while allowing students the opportunity to establish their education as they see fit. There remains a freedom to choose, guided by the experience and enthusiasm of our professors, within the broad framework offered to us in the form of our general education requirements. Breadth is required, but what this actually looks like is left to us to decide.

What accomplishments and/or activities at URI are you most proud of now?

Looking back on my time at URI, I am most proud of the confidence I have cultivated in my voice. With each presentation and group discussion, I became more and more comfortable in my ability to communicate what I hoped to share and in trusting that it was worth sharing. With confidence in my voice came clarity in my direction, to which end countless opportunities were offered by the community.

What research projects, internships, experiential learning, and/or study abroad programs did you participate in at URI? How did they enhance your education?

Throughout my college experience, I have been fortunate enough to work with various state and federal agencies through which I have become more intimately familiar with the realities of our society. The heart of both my practical and intellectual interests lies in the consideration of diverse viewpoints based on the belief that through this a common truth may be realized. Through my hands-on as well as my academic experience, I have come to appreciate the way in which our plans dictate our capacity to solve problems while also recognizing that practical application affects the way in which we conceive of our plans.

What do you value about your liberal arts education?

What I value the most about a liberal arts education is that it provides an essential context for whatever field one chooses to pursue. Progress is not made in isolation; it is through an awareness of the multiple perspectives that are at work in the pursuit of a given end that we can come to responsibly and considerately realize the world for which we hope.