Sophia Dodd, a senior from Fort Payne, Alabama, answers questions about her career as an anthropology major at Kenyon.
I had Professor Sam Pack as my advisor for sophomore/beginning of junior year and Professor Bruce Hardy for the rest!
I considered double majoring in studio art, but ended up just taking as many classes as I could in the department.
I was a member and alumni chair of Archon Society, and I am a senior admissions fellow.
I came to Kenyon with a pretty good idea that I would major in anthropology, but tried to explore several other departments before declaring. I took "Intro to Cultural Anth" with Professor Pack my sophomore year and my wonderful experience in that class solidified my love for the major and the department.
As India Kotis mentioned, "Human Skeletal Analysis" was my absolute favorite anthropology (and honestly overall!) course at Kenyon. The hands-on nature of the course, fascinating readings and creative exams reminded me of why I chose anthropology.
I didn’t go abroad, I think there are wonderful benefits to studying abroad or not studying abroad, but it ultimately depends on what each student wants from their learning experience!
I would emphasize that it is important to seize the opportunities we are given to get to know our professors, in the end we could read a book at any point in our lives but the chance to create friendships with mentors at Kenyon is only available once.
Along the same lines as above, I wish I had spent more time in office hours!
Every professor I have had at Kenyon has played a significant role in my career at Kenyon in some way. However, I think that Professor Linda Metzler (who was my first year advisor) had the greatest impact on forming my relationship with Kenyon. She kindly guided me to take fascinating classes that I might never have considered, and her words and affection for Kenyon made me see the campus as a hopeful, encouraging community.
Yes! I worked with Professor Bruce Hardy last summer as a Kenyon Summer Science Scholar through the anthropology department.
I currently do not have any solidified post-grad plans and am (like most of us) unsure about what the next few months will bring, but I hope to work for several years before deciding about attending graduate school.
I have many!! The anth department (and especially Palme House!) has been a place on campus for the past four years where I feel comfortable and intellectually inspired. I have many wonderful memories of studying late at night in Palme 200 looking at scapulas for "Human Skeletal Analysis," tinkering with digital microscopes with Professor Hardy during the summer, and looking around at my friends and fellow majors during our senior seminar with Professor Schortman last fall.