Why did you choose UNI? 

One of the biggest things that made me want to go to UNI was the small campus size. I grew up in a small town and loved the diverse, but small community atmosphere that UNI and Cedar Falls/ Waterloo give while still being two decently sized cities.

What have you enjoyed the most about attending UNI? 

Meeting new people. I love hearing about different experiences and learning about new places and perspectives from people here on campus. You can’t find that in a small town and I feel that was vital to me choosing and sticking with my major in Anthropology, as well as my minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality.

How did you become interested in your major? 

When I was uncertain about my major and began to look into more of the majors UNI had to offer, I realized what I wanted to do was to build and foster my want of understanding others. Other cultures, other groups, and other perspectives. The anthropology classes sounded like the right fit and since joining my only regret is that this isn’t the major I started in.

What have been some of your favorite aspects of the major? 

Learning about other cultures, other groups, and other perspectives. Building that understanding. I’m a firm believer that understanding other people is something core to bridging divides between people. And I love how I have been able to have better conversations and bridge gaps using what I’ve learned in my classes.

How have you been involved outside of the classroom?

In the short year and a half I’ve been a part of the major, I found that I loved participating in meetings with the Anthropology club. While I never played any large role in the club, I enjoyed the experience and found a place where I finally felt I belonged at UNI. 

What professors have been most influential through your time here at UNI?

While not part of my Anthropology major classes, Professor Cathrine Palczewski’s classes were some of my favorite and most formative courses. Her approach to theory in semi-open, semi-guided discussion classes was some of my favorite hours spent in classes. The classes made thinking about different perspectives and applying theory click for me. They also made me realize how much I still have to learn and grow, which is always good.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’m excited to find a position in HR or at the Social Security Administration here in either Cedar Falls/Waterloo area or in a state in the surrounding area.

How has UNI helped prepare you for these plans? 

Confidence is something I have always lacked, and until I came here, I really had no idea who I was, what I was the most interested in, and what made me feel fulfilled. Because of UNI, I have so much more confidence in who I am, where I’d like to go, and what I’d like to do. I’ve also found a community of people to give me advice and guide me as I continue growing as an individual. These are some really powerful tools that I believe will get me far.

What advice would you give to students who are considering this major? 

If you like learning about history, different cultures,  and aren’t afraid of possibly getting a little dirty doing it this may be the major for you. I’d recommend taking an intro class (Bones & Stones or Intro to Cultural Anth.) to get a grasp of what you can expect from this major and if you have an interest in continuing with it.