Graduate Student Spotlight: Re-Introducing Ruth!

Ruth Grady will be joining us a second time in Sicily for the 2017 MSFS. As an undergraduate, Ruth was one of our first students to join the program. After graduating this May, she will begin her graduate student career in UNL's Department of Anthropology and will be working with Dr. Reinhard for her thesis project. Ruth is excited to be returning to the island, degree in hand, as her first adventure during her Master's program. We caught up with Ruth to ask her about her involvement with this year's field school.

Hey, Ruth! What made you want to come back to Sicily to study mummies with us?

Last year I was unsure what to expect. I was so excited to be in the field school and I loved every moment. There was a lot to take in and I felt that I missed some parts of the field school in my excitement. Now that I know what to expect, I plan to pay more attention to the content. I also want to meet this year’s students and guest lecturers. Everyone has different interests and information. I feel I can learn from them because they have had different experiences that can be beneficial to me. The opportunity to study mummies daily for two weeks with Drs. Karl Reinhard, Dario Piombino-Mascali, Debra Meier, and Johnica Morrow is incredible. The daily experiences and instruction of topics related to the mummies is my core interest. 

How does Sicily fit into your thesis project and broader goals as a graduate student?
My goal as a graduate student is to expand my expertise in anthropology. I intend to do so through course work, field experiences, and research activities.

What are you most looking forward to about this summer's Mummy Studies Field School?

I look forward to learning the new things that were not taught last year. This year we will be visiting sites that we did not see last year. I also look forward to meeting this year’s students and guest lecturers. 

What are you most worried/anxious about?

Last year I had a lot of bug bites that I was not prepared for. This year, I will take extra measures to not have as many or any bug bites.

What are your plans following graduation?

I am currently a graduate student at UNL.  I will be working with Dr. Reinhard learning everything I can from him. I plan to take Archaeoparasitology, Pollen Analysis and Taphonomy in the near future. I am still looking for my niche but I have gotten closer to it with the help of Dr. Reinhard. I plan to continue into a Doctorate Program after my Masters.  

Who is your favorite mummy and why? Is this different from prior to the 2016 MSFS?
I no longer have a favorite mummy. Last year, my favorite mummy was the Lady of Dai, a Chinese mummy. But, after learning more about mummies, I realize that each mummy is unique. We can learn so much about a mummy and each one has a different story to tell that is special.