Portrait of an Anthropologist
Catherine Willermet, an anthropology professor at Central Michigan University, shares her aspirations while displaying her authentic decorated Mexican skull in her office. "Studying biological anthropology helps us understand our place in the world - how we evolved to look and behave the way we do.” Photo taken by Sarah Wolpoff. 3/3/16
Student Portraits
Hawra Ahmad encompasses two different cultures. “I was literally born on the other side of the world,” she said, reflecting on her childhood.
Born in Iran, Ahmad moved to Michigan when she was 2 years old. Despite living in America for most of her life, Ahmad described growing up in the states as culture shock.
“It was weird being a foreigner, because everything at home was completely different than school," she said. "We celebrated different holidays and lived by different rules.”
Although she has never returned to Iran, Ahmad said her personality has been greatly influenced by her cultural background. She emphasized how with her peers she's straight-forward and doesn’t tolerate "nonsense" from anyone.
However, growing up as an Iranian-American also gave her patience towards discrimination. Ahmad said she is "all too" familiar with prejudice and has experienced it at different points throughout her life. But despite the biases, she holds her head high. Because she understands that racial discrimination is rooted in ignorance, she said she does not let it affect her spirit. 1/19/16 Photo by Sarah Wolpoff
Devin Green, an 18-year-old Mount Pleasant native, works at an electronic cigarette vapor store. Because he's a "cloud chaser" who feels passionate for the rising vape culture, he loves to “tanker” with electric cigarette batteries and tanks.
Green's spent countless hours educating himself on how to modify the devices, making them more smooth, powerful and tasty. However, he his true pride nourishes beyond his hobby, and within his "introspective contemplative style."
“I view the world from an outside perspective, without attachment and analyze everyday life from an almost objective point of view,” he said.
Inspired by works from Hunter S. Thompson, Green said he is passionate about exploring consciousness. Specifically, he enjoys experiencing, cataloging and analyzing altered perception in different states of mind, and how that influences and expands his outlook on life. 1/21/16 Photo taken by Sarah Wolpoff
The Lab Experience
Ann Arbor junior Joshua Hovater is a neuroscience student in Michael Sandstrom’s research lab at Central Michigan University, where he and his lab mates are working on effective treatment for Parkinson’s Disorder. To prepare for animal testing, Hovater is converting stem cells into dopaminergic neurons, and making microdialysis probes, which will be used to measure dopamine levels in rat brains. Photos taken by Sarah Wolpoff. 2/4/16