Victoria Greening '23
BA Anthropology
Pronouns: she/her
How did you hear about Stony Brook University?
Since I grew up on Eastern Long Island, I have interacted with many alumni and students
from Stony Brook University. Many had shared positive experiences.
On Stony Brook:
Upon graduating high school, I attended Suffolk County Community College as a General
Studies major. I was unsure of what career path I wanted to pursue, however, I just
happened to take an introductory Anthropology course during my first semester there.
It was then I developed a passion for the field and began searching for avenues in
which I could continue to pursue it. After researching different places, I was motivated
to attend SBU for their BA in Anthropology. The Department of Anthropology has a multitude
of laboratories, research/study abroad opportunities, and faculty that I knew would
give me a multifaceted training experience.
On her major:
I am an Anthropology major. I chose this path because I’d like to pursue a career
in which I am interactively studying human origins and behavior. To discover and hold
history (or prehistory- rather) yourself is a wondrous and privileged feeling.
Favorite class:
My favorite class was Human Osteology under the advisement of Dr. Frederick Grine.
This class not only taught us how to identify human remains, but how to interpret
the health and lives of those we studied. This includes the interpretation and analysis
of osteological growth and remodeling, dietary reconstruction using physical and chemical
markers, as well as understanding how varying environmental factors and characteristics
affect preservation.
Interests and accomplishments:
I am fascinated by the health/well-being of hunters and gatherers, and early agricultural
communities who lived on the European continent during the Mesolithic-Neolithic era.
My interest spans across their dietary practices and disease, as well as their experiences
of internal and external conflict and trauma. When reflecting on my achievements,
I hold my fieldwork experiences in France and Romania in high regard, as well as my
research in the Human Paleontology and Research Laboratory and the Zooarchaeological
Training and Research Laboratory. Through these opportunities, I was able to study
human morphological variation and Neanderthal pelt procurement during the Late Pleistocene.
Greatest achievement:
My most significant accomplishment to date is my senior honors thesis, ”Frontal Sinus
Volume Variation in South African Africans.” After a year of collecting and analyzing
data, this project has not only expanded my knowledge of standard research procedures
but has also taught me how to produce new knowledge. I am proud to say that this paper
is nearly ready for submission to the American Journal of Biological Anthropology.
Awards & Accolades:
I received the Provost’s Award for Academic Excellence, the URECA Summer Research
Grant, the URECA Mini Travel Grant, and the Edward Hall Graduate Bursary.
Plans for post-graduation:
Starting this Autumn, I will be pursuing my MSc in Archaeological Science at the University
of Oxford. In the meantime, I have been finishing a few research projects here at
SBU.
Career aspirations:
My long-term goal is to earn a PhD and advance research within the field of Bioarchaeology.
I am passionate about expanding my knowledge and eventually sharing it with others
through teaching.
Clubs and organizations:
I am a member of SBUs Undergraduate Anthropology Society, the Graduate Archaeology
Society, and off-campus, the Society of American Archaeologists.
Advice for potential Seawolves?
One of the most important things you can do (outside of maintaining a good GPA) is
get involved and build connections with other students and individuals who work within
your field of interest. In doing so, you exponentiate your knowledge of your discipline
and often discover opportunities you never would have otherwise.