What are NEIU Anthropology Alumn

What are NEIU Anthropology Alumni doing? Here are a few updates from some of our recent grads. If you are an alumnus of the program and would like to post your information on this page, please e-mail any faculty member or j-baumgardner@neiu.edu. We would love to hear from you!
Since graduating from NEIU, I have worked on several archaeological projects in Peru, excavated Mississippian structures in the American Bottom, and scoured the mountains of the Great Basin for lithic scatters. I am currently going for my M.A. at Louisiana State University, and am grateful that my experience at NEIU prepared me well for graduate study. The best thing about NEIU's anthropology department is that the students are more than a number in a database; the professors are actively-engaged, care about their students, and provide them with the opportunities they need to succeed. I would recommend NEIU to any prospective student, particularly those who value the benefits of small class sizes and a supportive faculty.	Kyle Stich - '08
Jessica Given - '04	My experiences as a student in the Anthropology Department at NEIU not only expanded my worldview and understanding, but also led directly to me achieving my current position as a Senior Animal Trainer at SeaWorld San Diego. During my undergraduate studies I focused on physical anthropology and primatology, and with the help of Dr. Davis, I attained research opportunities at the Field Museum and Lincoln Park Zoo. These research opportunities gave me the chance to work in the Mammal prep lab at the Field, complete a research project on ape pelvic morphology in relation to the development of bipedalism, and collect ethological data on African Wild Dogs and Chimpanzees. After graduation, I received an internship at Brookfield Zoo working with giraffes and from there was hired as a seasonal zookeeper. These experiences led to me gaining an animal training position with the Animal Ambassador Team at SeaWorld San Diego. Now, I care for and train our ambassador animals, make presentations that connect our guests with the animals and support conservation, and travel across the US and Canada with our animals appearing at events and on local and national television programs, including the Martha Stewart show and the Jay Leno show. I feel that the opportunities I received at NEIU were integral to me reaching my goals after graduation. The small class sizes, personal attention and interest of the professors, and the high standards of the department gave me the tools, knowledge, and experiences I needed to succeed.
After finishing my Anthropology degree focusing on Physical Anthropology and Primates, I ended up in Phoenix and had a wonderful opportunity to work for the Primate Foundation of Arizona as a Registrar. Although I didn't work closely with the chimpanzees housed there, I kept medical records and learned a lot about behavioral enrichment and USDA regulations for primates (my class work proved invaluable to me). From there I became the Administrative Assistant for the Living Collections Department at The Phoenix Zoo. As Administrative Assistant, I write a weekly newsletter, bi-monthly Membership articles, edit the Conservation newsletter, handle the department's finances, and so on. I was even part of the design committee for developing the new Komodo dragon exhibit that opened this last November. What a great experience - and one that drew information directly from my Anthropology coursework. I'm so thankful for the education that I received as well as the direction my career path has gone. I will be moving up to Executive Assistant for the Zoo and will be working closely with the Zoo Director and CEO, the Zoological Society's President, the CFO, and our 2 EVPs.	Julie Deiter - '03
Sylvia Deskaj - '08	The anthropology department at NEIU has been instrumental in guiding me into a strange world of artifacts, Mayan temples, theory, paleobotanical remains, and bones. It all began with my first archaeological field school in Belize in 2006 with Dr. Hageman. Subsequent anthropology courses further engaged my interests and prepared me for a future within the discipline. The small class sizes and countless field opportunities further enhanced my experience. The faculty in the department are known to set pretty high standards and are committed to ensuring the success of students. I am fortunate to have received my anthropological training at NEIU as it has given me the skillset necessary to enter into the next phase of my existence. Since graduating from NEIU in 2008, I have worked in CRM archaeology and am currently a 1^st year anthropology graduate student at Michigan State University. My research interests include transnationalism, funerary practices, bioarchaeology, and forensic anthropology. These interests were cultivated while I was a student at NEIU through various field work opportunities in places such as Belize, Peru, Albania, as well as internships at the Field Museum of Natural History and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office in Chicago. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or comments at sdeskaj@gmail.com
I just graduated and filed my Honors Senior Thesis on Ancient Maya Water Management this past May. Midway through May I took off for 4 weeks with the NEIU Archaeology Field School in Belize to assist Dr. Hageman with a new group of NEIU field students. The NEIU Arch field school is always a blast. I highly recommend going (and going again!). This year I learned how to map using a new total station, I led two soil pit (midden) excavations, and we all helped excavate a house. My experiences with NEIU's field school, and the skills I learned in my semester working at Teotihuacan in Mexico last fall have prepared me to move on to work on some other projects. I am currently preparing to participate in Copper Age (cc 3500 B.C.) archaeology in Bekes County, Hungary for two months with Timothy Parsons, who is a candidate for a Ph.D. at Florida State University. I am also currently looking into positions for cultural resource management, and applying to graduate school and for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for Fall 2010. Find me on facebook or email me!	Nicole DeFrancisco - '09
Gardner Brandt - '09	I just want to say that NEIU gave me a great education and I am headed to the University of Nebraska for my masters in archaeology. I have to say that Dr. Wandsnider, my advisor at UNL, was very impressed with how much I was able to accomplish at NEIU. Although I did not do much as far as field work this summer, I did meet with my advisor and I got an apartment for the upcoming school year. If anyone is questioning about whether or not to get their BA in anthropology at NEIU, I say they should. Because NEIU is such a small school there are far more opportunities here than at larger schools. Good luck to all of you!
I am an Admissions Counselor for West Suburban College of Nursing, in Oak Park, Illinois. I help students from various backgrounds and age groups establish a plan for gaining acceptance into our not-for-profit nursing programs. I enjoy this position because I spend much of my time learning about different people and their individual histories and aspirations. Graduating from NEIU with a major in Anthropology has prepared me for this position by teaching me tolerance and understanding of all people no matter what their various backgrounds are. It has also helped me enjoy my job, which is very important to me. I can now look at and understand different people through an inquisitive and professional lens. All in all, the Anthropology program at NEIU has made my life more interesting and has given me confidence not just in my professional life but in my personal life as well.	Juan Miranda - '09

What are NEIU Anthropology Alumni doing? Here are a few updates from some of our recent grads. If you are an alumnus of the program and would like to post your information on this page, please e-mail any faculty member or j-baumgardner@neiu.edu. We would love to hear from you!

Since graduating from NEIU, I have worked on several archaeological projects in Peru, excavated Mississippian structures in the American Bottom, and scoured the mountains of the Great Basin for lithic scatters. I am currently going for my M.A. at Louisiana State University, and am grateful that my experience at NEIU prepared me well for graduate study. The best thing about NEIU's anthropology department is that the students are more than a number in a database; the professors are actively-engaged, care about their students, and provide them with the opportunities they need to succeed. I would recommend NEIU to any prospective student, particularly those who value the benefits of small class sizes and a supportive faculty.

Kyle Stich - '08

Jessica Given - '04

My experiences as a student in the Anthropology Department at NEIU not only expanded my worldview and understanding, but also led directly to me achieving my current position as a Senior Animal Trainer at SeaWorld San Diego. During my undergraduate studies I focused on physical anthropology and primatology, and with the help of Dr. Davis, I attained research opportunities at the Field Museum and Lincoln Park Zoo. These research opportunities gave me the chance to work in the Mammal prep lab at the Field, complete a research project on ape pelvic morphology in relation to the development of bipedalism, and collect ethological data on African Wild Dogs and Chimpanzees.

After graduation, I received an internship at Brookfield Zoo working with giraffes and from there was hired as a seasonal zookeeper. These experiences led to me gaining an animal training position with the Animal Ambassador Team at SeaWorld San Diego. Now, I care for and train our ambassador animals, make presentations that connect our guests with the animals and support conservation, and travel across the US and Canada with our animals appearing at events and on local and national television programs, including the Martha Stewart show and the Jay Leno show.

I feel that the opportunities I received at NEIU were integral to me reaching my goals after graduation. The small class sizes, personal attention and interest of the professors, and the high standards of the department gave me the tools, knowledge, and experiences I needed to succeed.

After finishing my Anthropology degree focusing on Physical Anthropology and Primates, I ended up in Phoenix and had a wonderful opportunity to work for the Primate Foundation of Arizona as a Registrar. Although I didn't work closely with the chimpanzees housed there, I kept medical records and learned a lot about behavioral enrichment and USDA regulations for primates (my class work proved invaluable to me). From there I became the Administrative Assistant for the Living Collections Department at The Phoenix Zoo. As Administrative Assistant, I write a weekly newsletter, bi-monthly Membership articles, edit the Conservation newsletter, handle the department's finances, and so on. I was even part of the design committee for developing the new Komodo dragon exhibit that opened this last November. What a great experience - and one that drew information directly from my Anthropology coursework. I'm so thankful for the education that I received as well as the direction my career path has gone. I will be moving up to Executive Assistant for the Zoo and will be working closely with the Zoo Director and CEO, the Zoological Society's President, the CFO, and our 2 EVPs.

Julie Deiter - '03

Sylvia Deskaj - '08

The anthropology department at NEIU has been instrumental in guiding me into a strange world of artifacts, Mayan temples, theory, paleobotanical remains, and bones. It all began with my first archaeological field school in Belize in 2006 with Dr. Hageman. Subsequent anthropology courses further engaged my interests and prepared me for a future within the discipline. The small class sizes and countless field opportunities further enhanced my experience. The faculty in the department are known to set pretty high standards and are committed to ensuring the success of students. I am fortunate to have received my anthropological training at NEIU as it has given me the skillset necessary to enter into the next phase of my existence.

Since graduating from NEIU in 2008, I have worked in CRM archaeology and am currently a 1^st year anthropology graduate student at Michigan State University. My research interests include transnationalism, funerary practices, bioarchaeology, and forensic anthropology. These interests were cultivated while I was a student at NEIU through various field work opportunities in places such as Belize, Peru, Albania, as well as internships at the Field Museum of Natural History and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office in Chicago.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or comments at sdeskaj@gmail.com

I just graduated and filed my Honors Senior Thesis on Ancient Maya Water Management this past May. Midway through May I took off for 4 weeks with the NEIU Archaeology Field School in Belize to assist Dr. Hageman with a new group of NEIU field students. The NEIU Arch field school is always a blast. I highly recommend going (and going again!). This year I learned how to map using a new total station, I led two soil pit (midden) excavations, and we all helped excavate a house. My experiences with NEIU's field school, and the skills I learned in my semester working at Teotihuacan in Mexico last fall have prepared me to move on to work on some other projects.

I am currently preparing to participate in Copper Age (cc 3500 B.C.) archaeology in Bekes County, Hungary for two months with Timothy Parsons, who is a candidate for a Ph.D. at Florida State University. I am also currently looking into positions for cultural resource management, and applying to graduate school and for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for Fall 2010.

Find me on facebook or email me!

Nicole DeFrancisco - '09

Gardner Brandt - '09

I just want to say that NEIU gave me a great education and I am headed to the University of Nebraska for my masters in archaeology.

I have to say that Dr. Wandsnider, my advisor at UNL, was very impressed with how much I was able to accomplish at NEIU. Although I did not do much as far as field work this summer, I did meet with my advisor and I got an apartment for the upcoming school year.

If anyone is questioning about whether or not to get their BA in anthropology at NEIU, I say they should. Because NEIU is such a small school there are far more opportunities here than at larger schools.
Good luck to all of you!

I am an Admissions Counselor for West Suburban College of Nursing, in Oak Park, Illinois. I help students from various backgrounds and age groups establish a plan for gaining acceptance into our not-for-profit nursing programs. I enjoy this position because I spend much of my time learning about different people and their individual histories and aspirations.
Graduating from NEIU with a major in Anthropology has prepared me for this position by teaching me tolerance and understanding of all people no matter what their various backgrounds are. It has also helped me enjoy my job, which is very important to me. I can now look at and understand different people through an inquisitive and professional lens. All in all, the Anthropology program at NEIU has made my life more interesting and has given me confidence not just in my professional life but in my personal life as well.

Juan Miranda - '09