Lauren Breach ’09
Double Major in Economics and Anthropology
F08-S09 D-plan: R-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: My favorite thing about the Anthropology department is the quality of the professors. Not only are the professors amazing in class, but they are so approachable and easy to talk to outside of class as well. My least favorite thing about the department would have to be how its small size affects the number of courses offered. I would love for there to be greater variety in the types of classes or areas of study available to students. But the department is definitely working on this by hiring new professors with varied backgrounds in Anthropology.

Important info for potential majors: I think a potential major should try to take a class in each of the four subfields early on in their Dartmouth career. Not only does this give you more freedom in picking classes later on, but it also allows you a greater opportunity to discover your interest in a particular subfield before it is too late.

Talk to me if: you think you want to go on the FSP to New Zealand!

Most valuable academic information learned: I think the most valuable thing I've learned at Dartmouth is to take classes that interest you. Choosing a major you like is going to make your experience here so much more enjoyable!

Favorite class and professor: I took a Primates class (Anth 12.7) with Professor Dobson during my sophomore winter, and it was an amazing experience. Dobson, who is new to the department, gives organized and interesting lectures, and his tests are extremely fair. While in class with Professor Dobson, it is easy to tell how excited he is about what he is teaching, and his enthusiasm is contagious.

Major classes taken: ANTH 3, 5, 12, 17, 38, 48, 51, 52, 54

Major journey: I came to Dartmouth expecting to be a double major in Economics and Mathematics. I took an Anthropology class in the winter of my freshman year on a whim, and I absolutely fell in love with the department. I'm now a double major in Anthropology and Economics and very happy with my decision.

Off Campus Program: Anthropology FSP in New Zealand, 08W

Other activities: UGA; Alpha Xi Delta – Philanthropy Chair, Public Relations VP, Panhell Rep; Tour Guide; Green Key Society; Project Bangladesh; Programming Board

Thesis Status: I will not be doing a thesis.

Onyinye Kanu ’09
Anthropology modified with AAAS; Pre-Med track
F08-S09 D-plan: R-L-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department:I like the spontaneity of the Anthropology Department. There are always new professors and classes to try out. The professors are very personable so going to office hours is okay. I wasn't too impressed with the lack of courses focusing on cultural study in the African continent, which is why I decided to modify my major.

Important info for potential majors: Be at one with the Student Guide. If enough people say the same thing then I wouldn't question it. Also talk to other Majors about how to study for a Anthropology exams especially when it comes to specific professors.

Talk to me if: You need help balancing your schedule; taking a good mix of pre med and non pre-med courses; oh and if you are planning on going on the Anthropology FSP

Most valuable academic information learned: I think the most valuable thing I finally decided to Take a Professor to Lunch at the Hanover Inn this term, my junior spring. I will be taking more advantage of this program since it means great food and a chance to get to know a professor. So START now. Take your Professor to lunch and don't worry about what you'll talk about because great conversation can happen over good food. There are so many professors that I wish I had taken to lunch earlier in my Dartmouth career.

Favorite class and professor: I have a few favorites:
Lats 31- Constructing Race and Ethnicity in the US with Professor Christina Gomez; This class made sophomore summer actually matter. Anth 33- Crossing Over: Latino Roots and Transitions with Professor Lourdes Gutierrez-Najera; There was actually some fieldwork involved in this course that allowed me to get to know a friend more and understand what Anthropologists do out in the field.

Major classes taken: Anth 3, 33, 48, 50; AAAS 41, 44; Thea 10; Mus 51

Major journey: I took Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Anth 3) my freshman spring without the intention of being a major. It still seemed really far-fetched to me that someone could get paid to go and live somewhere else and do research. I was also busy taking pre-med courses and trying to decide what science I should major in. In the end, I figured out that science at Dartmouth was not for me and decided to start taking classes that I found interesting. These happened to be in the AAAS department. Then I stumbled upon a class, African Theater, which was in neither the Anthro or AAAS departments. At the time when I took the course it was called Theater 10 and it was not cross-listed in any other department. So I started to devise a plan that would combine my interest in Africa and the study of the different cultures within the continent.

Other activities: Afro-American Society-Communications Chair 06; DACC; Dartmouth Black Business Association; Black Women's Forum; Dartmouth Women's Rugby Club; Committee on Standards

Off-campus program:Anthropology FSP in New Zealand, 09W

Internship experience:Club Z Tutoring, Tutor, 06X, NYC The Hopkins Center, Marketing and Publicity Intern, 07W, NH

Olivia Stalcup ’10
Anthropology major; minor undecided
F08-S09 D-plan: R-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: I find the professors extremely engaging and very approachable. If a student has a question and the professor is unsure of the answer, he/she will simply redirect the student to another colleague who has more expertise in the field. The opportunities for research are abundant and the FSP is an awesome chance to study with an indigenous culture (New Zealand Maori). Classes are typically small and cover a wide variety of topics. I would like to see more professors in the department to add to the ever evolving study of modern anthropology.

Important info for potential majors: Don't be afraid to take your first course at a higher level. Intro courses are not required as prerequisites and can sometimes be skipped altogether. Definitely take a variety of courses among biological, cultural, archaeological, and ethnography before deciding on a concentration.

Talk to me if: You would like to know more about Prehispanic Mesoamerica, the FSP to New Zealand, or how to chose your first anthro course. Most valuable academic info learned: Meeting with a professor during office hours or after class and discussing questions you have regarding lecture or the readings is the best way to display that you do in fact have an interest in the class. Showing up zombie fashion to every class does not count.

Favorite class and professor: What a tough question! My favorite professor is Deb Nichols. She is a phenomenal, effective lecturer and clearly loves her field of interest (Mesoamerica). As for favorite class, I would say Professor Endicott's ANTH 38: Oceania. I was surprised at my lack of knowledge of the Pacific Islands and their settlement. This was my first cultural class and the professor brought in an interesting assortment of artifacts for the class to peruse.

Major classes taken: Anthro 8, 22, 38

Major journey: I stumbled upon my major as a confused freshman with academic A.D.D. I love every class I take and find all departments interesting (a true nerd at heart). I took one class with Professor Nichols and from then on it was anthropology all the way.

Major specific activities: Research assistant -3 terms, departmental assistant Summer 08X

Thesis status: Intended

Other activities: Alpha Xi Delta (Houseman and Marshall) Dartmouth Women's' Rugby Club (Equipment Manager), Students Fighting Hunger, Dartmouth Animal Welfare Group, Women in Business, Admissions Intern

Off Campus Program: Teotihuacan Mexico trip (with Professor Deborah Nichols, French LSA Lyon, France W08, Anthropology FSP Auckland New Zealand W09

Internship experience: Anthropology Lab research assistant 07S,07X, 07F, Dartmouth College Fund GreenCorp$ caller 07F, Dartmouth Admissions Office Intern 08X, Anthropology Department Assistant 08X

Tess McLoud’10
Anthropology, French Languages and Literatures
F08-S09 D-plan: O-R-O

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: There is a very strong Anthropology program at Dartmouth with inspiring teachers who have varied interests and real fieldwork experience that is invaluable. One of the most amazing parts of this major is its interdisciplinary nature which allows the student to study topics from primate social behavior to the archaeology of Native American peoples within the same department. I would say that my least favorite aspect is the lack of publicity this department attracts and hence its relatively low profile among other majors for students to choose.

Important info for potential majors: Anthropology requires that you take at least one course in each of the four divisions of the discipline: Ethnology, Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, and Biological Anthropology. Get these out of the way early on so you can see which is best suited to your interests and then expand in that area from there.

Talk to me if: Talk to me if you are interested in biological anthropology, are taking Anthro 41, 42, 43, or 47. Talk to me if you are in classes with Professors Dobson or Muldoon. Talk to me if you are double-majoring.

Most valuable academic information learned: If you are double-majoring, start taking your major classes as early as you can, and fill your distribs!

Favorite class and professor: Anthropology: Anthro 42, Primate Societies, Professor Seth Dobson

Major classes taken: ANTH 1, 41, 42, 43, 47

Major journey: Anthropology came as a surprise to me. I had intended on studying biology in college, but I took an anthropology course freshman fall and fell in love with it. It turned out that a separate discipline within anthropology – biological anthropology – suited my interests very well.

Thesis status: Planned for Anthropology, Professors Dobson and Muldoon, primatology/biological anthropology

Other activities: Dartmouth Subtleties a cappella; Sigma Delta sorority

Off Campus Program: Italian LSA in Rome, 08F; French FSP in Paris, 09S

Internship experience: Denver Museum of Nature and Science, intern for Curator of Archaeology 08S
ERO Resources Corporation, Denver, CO. Intern, Environmental and Natural Resources, 08S