Elena Adasheva-Klein is a PhD Candidate in Sociocultural Anthropology at Yale University. Her doctoral research lies at the intersection of philosophical and visual anthropology, environmental humanities, and interdisciplinary studies of light and dark. Elena’s engagement with human experience and meaning making across social anthropology and philosophy extends beyond academic interest as she seeks to appreciate and derive deeper meaning from everyday aspects of life. Influenced by the religious tradition of Eastern Orthodox Christianity and the Western philosophical traditions of phenomenology and existentialism, Elena is driven to contemplate the purpose of human life and the extent of human agency. She emphasizes the importance of nurturing both intellectual and spiritual capacities, while fostering connections with nature and others. Elena is interested in exploring possibilities of ethnographic and creative writing for collaborative teaching and learning.