My Adams Outcomes

My field of anthropology focuses on learning all we can about being human, both cultural and biological. I use my knowledge and experiences to teach undergraduate and graduate courses that delve into the human condition from and anthropological perspective. We explore cultural and biological diversity with the San Luis Valley, and greater Southwest, as our classroom.

I have always loved learning. Even though I may struggle in some educational environments, I constantly want to increase my knowledge and skills. As such, I completed a second Masters degree in Higher Education Administration online at SNHU and began coursework towards an M.B.A. I feel these will help me to better understand my roles in shaping and expanding the anthropology and CRM programs at Adams State, as well as what students may need working in small businesses. This continues my lifelong learning and may also allow me to have further civic engagement beyond public outreach and education tied to archaeology.

My personal strengths were always critical thinking and problem-solving. Oral and written communication have never been easy for me. I have always struggled with social anxiety, fearing to get up in front of others and speak. Furthermore, from my earliest memories of elementary education, I never understood grammar and spelling. Beginning my teaching career as an English instructor made me have to work through both of these weaknesses. I still struggle sometimes with performance anxiety when I teach and have to take more time than most when I write, but this has made me a more empathetic teacher and aware of our different strengths and areas for improvement.

While many graduate students focus on a specialized area of their discipline, I gravitated towards a more general synthesis of my studies as well. I wanted to move beyond a specific archaeological place or time and be able to explore the broader field of anthropology and how it can be relevant for all of my students - no matter their own goals or discipline. Since I now teach courses in anthropology, history, and the geosciences, I feel I am meeting this goal of moving beyond a siloed academic field to cross-disciplinary studies and experiences.