When Leadership and Literature Go Hand in Hand
During the summer of 2026, I had the pleasure of serving as a colloquium leader for Harvard University’s 16th IWL session. Throughout my experience, I faced a few unexpected challenges, including being hit by a motorbike on my very first day of class. A wise woman once told me that your twenties are for falling down and scraping your knees; however, I certainly did not expect that to happen on my first day of class!
Thankfully, the emergency room where I was treated was incredibly kind and courteous. I also had a copy of Prof. Delia Ungureanu’s book, Time Regained, which kept me company while I waited to receive treatment. My professors were completely understanding and encouraging, even as I continued writing with my hands wrapped. They motivated and supported me as I worked alongside the other students.
It was also a pleasure to see Prof. Mads Rosendahl Thomsen again when he delivered the opening remarks for Prof. Elleke Boehmer’s presentation. Her presentation reminded me a lot about themes which were highlighted during Prof. Lawrence Venuti’s presentations on translation. It should also be noted that he made me laugh often during class, and I will never forget his insightful reflections on Dante’s Divine Comedy. He also shared fascinating perspectives on Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1966 film Blow-Up and the ways in which conceptions of beauty change over time.
An ongoing theme in Prof. Delia Ungureanu’s course was the notion of how things change over time. She is, and always will be, an inspiration to me. This summer, she taught me the importance of being a leader while also listening to others. If I could take her seminar again, I would in a heartbeat, because she is an incredibly inspiring woman, and I hope to follow in her footsteps as a scholar someday. I deeply admire the resilience and wisdom reflected in Prof. Ungureanu’s words, and her courage ultimately helped me become a better colloquium leader for my students.
It should also be noted that she inspired me to conduct further research on fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast after we discussed the story of Sleeping Beauty. Her wisdom and guidance gave me a new perspective and encouraged me to support my wonderful students as they delivered their beautiful presentations:
As a whole, my students also helped me recognize the importance of film and inspired me to incorporate different aspects of cinema into my own research. I deeply admire how dedicated and driven these scholars are, as well as how open they were to collaborating with me. Their dedication and zest for knowledge made me look forward to serving as a colloquium leader every Friday.
I will forever treasure my summer with IWL in Berlin. The experience taught me so much about how dreams can become a reality through hard work, tenacity, and helping others recognize the importance of creating a community. I will never forget the memories I made during the summer of 2026 and the incredible people I had the privilege of meeting!
Natasha Hendler
2025 & 2026 IWL alumna
PhD student, University of Buffalo