Foundation Scholar Maya Kraidy
| The Chicago Chapter of the Circumnavigators Club and Northwestern University have sponsored Maya Kraidy to make a circumnavigation in 2025 while conducting research on her topic entitled: "Signs of Change: Exploring Minority Language Revitalization through Linguistic Landscape". This is explained below in more detail in the section on her Research Topic. |
Background on Maya Kraidy
Maya Kraidy was born in Washington, D.C., but her upbringing spanned four countries - growing up in the U.S., Lebanon, the Netherlands, and Qatar, where she graduated from high school. With a Mexican mother and a Lebanese father, she was raised in a home where multiple languages, cultures, and traditions came together daily. She is currently a student at Northwestern University, majoring in linguistics and cognitive science.
On campus, Maya is the women's captain of the crew team and an active member of the Undergraduate Linguistics Association (NULSA), where she will serve as co-president next year. Her project is inspired by the intersections of her personal and academic journey, shaped by the languages and stories she has encountered across borders.
Outside of her studies, Maya loves sewing and upcycling clothes, producing digital music, and exploring Chicago's diverse food scene one restaurant at a time.
Maya Kraidy Study Grant Topic
In this study-grant I will explore how public language use reflects efforts to revitalize and represent minority languages. From street signs and museum labels to graffiti and posters, I’m interested in how everyday language in public spaces tells stories about identity, accessibility, and belonging.
Itinerary of Circumnavigation
Maya plans to visit these countries during her circumnavigation in the summer of 2025.
- June 16 - June 30 Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
- June 30 - July 14 South Africa
- July 14 - July 28 Singapore
- July 28 - August 11 The Philippines
- August 11 - August 26 New Zealand