Education & Curriculum Development
Teaching, to me, is not about delivering information—it is about sharpening perception, deepening self-awareness, and cultivating a mind that can think critically and creatively. Writing is the medium through which I achieve this, not just as an art form but as a disciplined practice of intellectual refinement. In my classroom, we celebrate the collision of the self with the unknown world — challenging assumptions, exploring contradictions, and wrestling with complexity.
Bryant University
Bryant University
Dec. 2022
Wisconsin, Madison
“While most of her work is inspired by growing up as an Afghan-American girl alongside her mother and father’s influential impact on her life, Naderi chose to share some of her more spirited pieces for the Yalda Night celebration… Through her friendly encouragement for the audience to engage in her slam poetry session, Naderi’s performance was enjoyable to all.”
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Rhode Island, N.Y.
Nov. 2021
“Marjan Naderi visits Bryant University as a guest speaker for International Education Week & the Visiting Writer's Series. Naderi reads a 1hr set of poetry and hosts a writing workshop for university students.”
L.M.S. Voice | Fairfax County Public Schools
L.M.S. Voice | Fairfax County Public Schools
Jan. 2023
Fairfax County, V.A.
“Remember, your hands hold the lifelines and the lifetimes of a lineage …” Naderi recollects her mother warning. Her name and her defense of her culture is a representation of her family, but as a poet Naderi has the power to change how her culture is viewed on a broader scale. With such platform, Naderi can strengthen the power her culture finds in their identity, reconfirming their worth & value in an American society that seldom accepts them,”
The University of Virginia
The University of Virginia
Spring 2023, 2025
Charlottesville, V.A.
“Being able to come close to the most misunderstood religion in the world is critical for the development of a complete citizen,” Naderi said. “When people are able to have these opportunities to have their stereotypes and their preconceived notions challenged, not only makes the United States safer for Muslims, but also opens a completely new branch of support.”
Why it Matters
The ability to write well is the ability to think well. The world does not need more passive learners—it needs minds that can navigate contradiction, articulate complexity, and resist oversimplification. In an era of misinformation, propaganda, and algorithm-driven discourse, the ability to write with clarity and depth is not just an academic skill—it is a civic responsibility.
Across cultures and historical epochs, writing has served as a vessel for intellectual rigor, emotional clarity, and cultural continuity. My curriculum draws from literary traditions across ages and geographies, ensuring that students gain both a diverse literary education and an appreciation for the brilliance of American landscapes of writing. Through this approach, students cultivate their own voices while recognizing the ways writing serves as both a personal tool for self-discovery and a societal instrument for transformation.