Why did you choose to attend UE?
I chose UE because of its outstanding Archaeology program and the ability to be involved in a variety of activities on campus. The Department of Archaeology and Anthropology is an amazing scholarly community that challenged and prepared me to succeed in a competitive field. I also knew that I wanted to attend a small university where I would be able to get to know my professors and participate in many organizations.

How has your program prepared you for a future career?
My coursework in ceramics, surveying, and archaeological technical skills prepared me for teaching and research roles in long-term excavation projects. I modeled techniques for classmates at the Tin City Archaeological Project in Evansville and helped train surveyors at the Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project in Arcadia, Greece. I originally joined the laboratory team at Mt. Lykaion, but the directors requested that I also assist the survey and excavation teams, which needed additional experienced members. This fieldwork has prepared me to contribute substantially to future projects during graduate school and beyond. I also tutored Latin for the Archaeology Department, gaining valuable teaching experience for the future.

What activities or organizations have you been/were you involved with at UE? How have these impacted you and your college career?
Outside of academics, I was part of several campus organizations and activities. I loved singing in the University Choir, writing and editing articles for Student Media, doing service events with UE Students for Life, and leading Bible studies for Aces Catholic. Participating in these organizations helped me connect with others on campus and make a difference in my community.

What advice would you share with incoming students?
Take advantage of UE’s small class sizes by getting to know your professors and classmates and taking hands-on courses! Let your professors know what your professional goals are and see what opportunities they know about. Then, stop by the Career Center for help with your résumé and cover letter to make your application stand out. Also, don’t forget to ask about and apply for funding! The Career Center, Honors, and Academic Fund Board all provide money for students to pursue career-building opportunities, and external sources of funding exist as well. Additionally, college is more than simply getting a degree and there are so many things to do on campus, so I would highly recommend getting involved! Regardless of your interests, there is a club where you can find like-minded individuals, and being in leadership positions for organizations is great experience.

Did you visit UE before deciding to attend?
I visited UE twice before committing to attend, and I was blown away by how amazing the professors were. They readily gave up some of their rare free time to meet with me (even on a weekend!) and answer my questions. It showed me how much my department would value me as a person.