Emily's Fund to Become a Professor

Hello, I'm Emily Shearin and I'm currently a student persuing my MA in Applied Anthropology at Humboldt State Univeristy, specifically archaeology. My thesis for this program is focused on looking at pre-Columbian Mesoamerican Murals, with the research aimed toward identifying pigments in order to test degradation rates on them. This is a crucial step in understanding how to preserve and conserve these types of pigments in the future. My overall goals are to earn my PhD and begin teaching at a research based university, which means I can help foster the new generation of anthropologist and still contribute to the community with research publications. 

I'm loving my program so far, because it is taking a holistic approach to anthropology. I am getting experience and knowledge not just for archaeology, but anthropology as a whole. Although there is still a lot of specific work within my field. I'm also with a class of amazing students and professors. Currently I have a 3.7 GPA and I am about half way through the entire program.(Above photo: Me on a graduate trip to Patricks Point in the Sumec Village) 

(Above Photo: Me in overalls, teaching fellow students how to set up a Total Mappong Station for surveying land )

I have always valued my education, and continued to work towards my goals even when I discovered I was pregnant during my undergraduate work at HSU. Becoming a single mother only motivated me more to work even harder. I graduated with my BA 10 days before my son turned 1 and started the graduate program a few weeks later. You can read more about my undergraduate experience at the Humboldt State Cantennial Stories where my story was picked for publication.

(Above photo: My son and I at graduation)

The hardest part of school for me has never been school itself, I love to learn and work hard. The most difficult aspect has always been the financial side of things. As an undergraduate I applied for every grant and scholarship possible. I turned to the state/federal government to help, only to find out that the system had many flaws. The largest being discrimination based off a person's choice in major. You can read about my struggle of changing policy to accept all majors for state and federal aid and welfare in the newspaper article Major Problems with Welfare.

Now as a graduate student, the problem is even worse. There are not as many grants or scholarships for graduate students, and basically no federal help. Of course the cost of school is higher as well. I work two jobs to support my son and I which is hard enough without the overwhelming expenses of school.

As a graduate student you are charged by the unit instead of just a tuition price. This is what I need help with the most. Due to the nature of archaeology and my studies, I am taking three extra chemistry courses, each one with a lab component. At $375 a unit it is around $4000 just to enroll. This is not including books, transportation or daycare.  

Another large but most exciting expense I am facing is how to pay for field school. I need to understand how to be involved in anthropological field work if I am ever going to be qualified to teach it. Currently I am looking at going to Belize with my school program, so my field work is in the region I am researching. However I am also looking at outside programs in other Mesoamerican countries. The prices here range from $4000-$7000. 

By by donating you are helping a single mother, who has worked really hard through numerous struggles, achieve her goal of being a university professor. This will provide a stable future for my son as well, and a dedicated teacher for future students. I appreciate all the help and support I recieve.