Alumni Spotlight: Dinar Kurji '21

Dinar Kurji

Religious Studies Class of 2021

Young woman standing by fence with black-and-white cows in sunny farm photo

What was your major? Why did you choose it?
I majored in Religious Studies because I am passionate about learning about it.

What was your first job after graduation?

Preschool Teacher and Doula.

What are you up to now?

I am a certified Birth, Postpartum, and Sibling Doula. Working with Doulas by the Bay, I had the privilege of supporting women post-labor. As a postpartum doula, I provided continuous support to new mothers by assisting them with breastfeeding, changing diapers, and sleep training. In this role, I also completed household chores and prepared nutritious meals to help mothers recover their strength. Meeting with these families weekly, I collaborated with them to establish routines that centered on self-care and healing. These daily practices helped families prioritize their time with their partners and loved ones. My goal was to ease their transition into parenthood, allowing them to bond with their newborn. I am also currently pursuing my Master's Degree in Public Health at USC.

How did your experience at UC Davis prepare you for the next step in your academic and professional journey?
My experience in Religious Studies at UC Davis prepared me for medical school by giving me both academic skills and a deeper understanding of the human experience. RST challenged me to think about ethics, compassion, and cultural perspectives in ways that directly inform how I hope to practice medicine.

For example, I took courses on "Death and the Afterlife" and on Suffering, both of which pushed me to reflect on how people make meaning in times of illness, loss, and uncertainty. These classes were invaluable in helping me see the importance of listening, empathy, and respect for diverse beliefs.

Religious Studies showed me indirectly that medicine is not only about treating the body but also about caring for the whole person. RST gave me tools to engage thoughtfully with questions of meaning, mortality, and ethics, all of which continue to shape my journey as a future doctor. I am forever grateful to all the faculty and staff, and of course, my lifelong friends from my classes.

What's your advice for someone considering your major?

Don’t think of Religious Studies as something that limits you in what you want to study or pursue as a career. For example, I had a passion for studying religion, but also knew I wanted to apply to medical school—both were possible. Religious Studies is a flexible major that can serve you well in any field. As you learn about different traditions and faiths, you are also learning about ethics, culture, empathy, and the human experience—skills and perspectives that are valuable whether you go into medicine, law, education, business, or any other profession.

What was your favorite part of your undergraduate program here?
I loved RST Tea Time and serving tea every Tuesday.

What are you most proud of from your undergrad experience?
Definitely completing my senior thesis under the guidance of Professor Syed.

Do you have a professor or a class you want to shout out?
SO many lol (I can't pick 1): "God on Trial" (Professor Mroczek); Professor Syed, "Christian Theology" Professor O'Keefe; "Ramayana" Professor Venkatesan; "Religion and Sci-Fi)" Aaron French.

What were you involved in outside of class (clubs, internships, etc.)?
Bis 2B Lab Assistant; RST Peer Advisor; Shifa Clinic; BPSHI; Global Medical Training; Nā Keiki O Hawai'i; Diaper Bank Project; Health-Related Internship; Medical Association of Pre Medical Students; RST Tea