In 2013 I was a transfer student to UCSC and initially I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do or even could do with a degree in anthropology. I wasn’t even considering archaeology because I thought only old rich white men were archaeologists. However, as I took more classes and made connections with the professors and graduate students while doing lab internships, I realized that archaeology wasn’t just an academic pursuit for old men in tweed jackets. During one of the lunch talks offered by the Anthro department I learned about the Cabrillo College field school run by Dustin McKenzie. This was the only field school I even considered attending because it was honestly the only one I could afford, but also because Dusty made working in archaeology sound not only feasible but also incredibly fun.
I’m so glad I was able to attend that field school because I not only was able to learn the basic skills I needed to work in Cultural Resource Management (CRM) but I was also able to make connections with archaeologists from a local CRM firm who were volunteering there. Through the connections I made at this field school I was able to get my first job as an archaeological field technician. The critical thinking and practical skills I learned from the classes and lab work at UCSC have been crucial to me as I have continued my career in archaeology. I have now been working in the field for eight years and am currently a full-time staff archaeologist for Albion Environmental. The lab-based skills I gained while attending UCSC have helped me in my roles as a lab director and faunal analyst, but the critical thinking and practical knowledge I gained from cultural and archaeology classes have been invaluable to me as I work in the field, navigating how to work with construction companies, developing relationships with descendant communities, and engaging with the public.