Naomi Barkan

Naomi Barkan is a freshman at the University of Michigan planning to major in Biopsych, Cognition and Neuroscience. Naomi was born and raised in the Bay Area, California and has loved growing up there. She feels lucky having access to beautiful mountains, beaches, and forests. California has instilled in her a strong urge to simply lay out in the sun when possible. She appreciates growing up in such a diverse area, as she had the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of cultures. Jewish culture holds a special place in Naomi’s life and has allowed her to understand the importance of being connected to one’s heritage. Naomi is excited by learning about her peers' cultures, trying all sorts of different foods and traveling to new places. Her favorite cuisines are Japanese and Middle Eastern, and loves to try new restaurants from these cuisines. Naomi enjoys cooking and uses it to connect with, and share her love for Judaism. She worked as an intern/chef at one of the top restaurants in Tel Aviv in 2022, and loved learning how to cook authentic Jewish and Israeli foods, along with other kitchen skills. Now in college, Naomi is working on finding her footing at the University of Michigan and exploring her aspirations of working in the neuroscience field. She is excited to continue adventuring around Ann Arbor next year!