Medieval Islamic Societies
Ohio Wesleyan Students Travel to Turkey for OWU Connection Travel-Learning Course
Name: Abigail Kallay ’27
Hometown: Painesville, Ohio
High School: Riverside High School
Majors: Elementary Education and Psychology
Minor: Dance
Name: Savannah Silva ’25
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
High School: Kings High School
Major: Art History
OWU Connection Experience: Medieval Islamic Societies Travel-Learning Course (TLC)
Visiting a sculpture in Istanbul are (from left) Bona Kang, Maddie Coleman ’24, Savannah Silva ’25, Abigail Kallay ’27, Jenna Nahhas ’24, Faith Deschamps ’24, Ethan Benas ’24, Caleb Gunn ’27, and Nancy Comorau.
Along with Kallay and Silva, students Ethan Benas ’24 of Carmel Valley, California; Maddie Coleman ’24 of Parma, Ohio; Faith Deschamps ’24 of East Orange, New Jersey; Caleb Gunn ’27 of Galion, Ohio; and Jenna Nahhas ’24 of Dayton, Ohio, of traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, from May 13-24 to study Islamic religion, society, history, and civilization from approximately the 10th through 17th centuries.
They traveled with Susan Gunasti, Ph.D., professor of Religion; Nancy Comorau, Ph.D., associate professor of English; and Bona Kang, Ph.D., assistant professor of Education.
Professor Gunasti shares: “This period represents a remarkable intellectual florescence within the Islamic tradition, the transformation of cultural institutions, and a geo-political shift from the Arab world to Asia, in the east.” After spending a semester studying the topic in the classroom, the course’s travel component allowed students to “explore religion, society, intellectual currents, politics, law, institutions, gender relations, and the arts under Muslim rule within the context of the major political powers and dynasties.”
I chose the Medieval Islamic Societies TLC because it is important for teachers to be culturally responsive.
Abigail Kallay ’27
Why This Experience?
Kallay: “I chose the Medieval Islamic Societies TLC because it is important for teachers to be culturally responsive. This course allowed me to learn about a religion and culture different from my own. Going to Istanbul is a very unique opportunity that would not have been possible for me without this experience.”
Silva: “I chose this OWU Connection experience because I thought it was a really unique one, and I was lucky that the class subject pertained to my major.”
Favorite Moments
Kallay: “My favorite moment was when I led a tour of the Rustem Pasha Mosque. I chose this mosque to research prior to the trip for our student-led tours. We got to explore the 15th-century mosque and its original Inzik tiles. It was such a fun experience to be able to learn about a place and then teach your classmates about it in person. It had such an interesting history and was one of the most beautiful places we went to.”
Silva: “My favorite moment of this experience was seeing the Hagia Sophia. I think this part of the trip stuck with me so much not just because it was one of the first things that we did but also because it was sort of surreal for me to be in a place that I had learned about only just in this course but in other classes I’ve taken as well.” (Hagia Sophia is widely considered to be one of the world’s most innovative architectural marvels and has served as a church, mosque, and museum since its original construction was completed in 537.)
Lessons Learned
Kallay: “Taking Medieval Islamic Societies has really opened up my worldview. I am incredibly grateful that I was able to take this course as a freshman because it has really flamed my interest in travel. There is so much to learn from the past, and I feel like that is more important now than ever.
“Being able to go to a city on the other side of the world with a diverse group of people was an extremely unique experience. Dr. Gunasti’s knowledge of medieval Islamic history, coupled with everyone’s majors and unique interests, made everything we learned that much more enriching.
“I was able to connect ideas from my Education courses to the city dynamics. It was so interesting to see real-life examples from the TLC and my major-specific courses. I don’t think words can really express how much I enjoyed learning and traveling to Istanbul. I am forever grateful for this opportunity and the memories I will carry with me.”
Silva: “This experience really helped me to learn a lot both related to things in and out of the classroom. I think that this really helped me solidify and become more excited for my plans of studying abroad in the future, and I really think that experiences like this matter because it is so different from the things that we see or experience at home.”
Campus Involvements
Kallay: “I am a member of the Education Fellows, Orchesis Dance Company, Terpsicorps, and Astronomy Club.”
Silva: “Outside of the classroom I am involved in Greek life as a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. I also lived in SEAL this past year and worked on many different service projects including my own house project.” (SEAL is one of Ohio Wesleyan’s small living units, which allows up to 12 students to live together in a community based on common interests. SEAL is the House of Service, Engagement, and Leadership.)
Why Ohio Wesleyan?
Kallay: “I chose Ohio Wesleyan because of all the amazing travel opportunities and I didn’t feel like a number.”
Silva: “I chose to attend Ohio Wesleyan because of the small size of the school along with the travel opportunities that are offered.”
Plans After Graduation
Kallay: “My plan after graduation is to spend a few years teaching elementary school. From there I hope to get my master’s and become either a school psychologist or school principal.”
Silva: “My plans after graduation are to go to grad school and to travel as much as I can. OWU is definitely helping me prepare for these goals as I am becoming more comfortable being on my own not just on campus but in different parts of the world.”