Ahan Jaykumar

I am a Third-Year Undergraduate student from New Delhi, India, majoring in Economics and History. My academic interests focus on the consequences of Colonisation on modern-day India, particularly in shaping its social structures, but I generally enjoy studying societies of the past because it gives great insight into human ways of thinking.  Outside of work, I enjoy reading, listening to music and spending time with my two dogs.

I was drawn to the McKeon centre by an interest to learn more about Richard McKeon's intellectual legacy and his work into the history of thought. In my time in this position so far, I have been exposed to lectures that trace an important evolution in the medieval times noting the formation of a new epistemic order, wherein ideas laid out by Aristotle, Augustine and Boethius were reinterpreted 

Over time, I hope to better my own understanding and thus be able to contribute to conversations into the formation of knowledge, something I believe to be of particular importance today. 

Jack Rich

I am a second-year undergraduate and set to graduate in 2028. I am majoring in Fundamentals: Texts and Issues. I was drawn to Fundamentals for its emphasis on close reading and inquiry—skills I hope to carry into my career engaged with writing and analysis.

At the McKeon Center, I’m exploring the intellectual legacy of Richard McKeon, whose interdisciplinary work and public engagement continue to resonate today. Through my research, I’ve uncovered fascinating connections, such as McKeon’s correspondence with Eleanor Roosevelt inviting him to serve on a policy committee for the American Association for the UN in 1958, and his efforts to edit the platform of the American Commonwealth Party. This experience has deepened my appreciation for archival research.

I’m originally from Connecticut and enjoy reading, writing, and spending time with friends. At home, I share the space with two dogs, two cats, and two siblings.