The mission of the Department of Anthropology is to achieve excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching, maintain active research, and engage in service activities within the university and public sector.
Our Department includes the Applied Anthropology Laboratories, which expands student education beyond the classroom through practical experience in the application of technical and scientific anthropological knowledge. The Department is committed to quality and ethically responsible research and scholarship and strongly encourage innovative and collaborative research and teaching initiatives within the Department and beyond. We emphasize how anthropology can promote a greater understanding of human diversity in the University and public communities.
During One Ball State Day, we hope to generate contributions to our Troyer Endowment. The Troyer Endowment has two components. The Troyer Scholarship, named after benefactor Byron Troyer, is applied toward tuition or other expenses. The Troyer Grant, named for Byron’s spouse, Iona Troyer, is for student professional development. These funds are used to support numerous Anthropology undergraduate and graduate students who have benefited from the generosity of our donors.
Troyer Scholarship Success Stories:
- An undergraduate Anthropology major earned a Troyer Scholarship to offset tuition costs during her senior year. Concentrating in Archaeology, she continues working as an intern in our Applied Anthropology Laboratories with collections from the Fort Recovery Project.
- An undergraduate Anthropology major secured a Troyer Grant to assist with costs for the Ethnographic Field School in India. Facilitated by Dr. Robert Phillips, this 4-week cultural immersion exposed students to research about ritual and belief across cultures.
- Five students earned a Troyer Grant to participate in this life-changing experience.
- A graduate student in Anthropology received a Troyer Grant to support her Master’s thesis work. Attending a national conference provided her with information to apply to her research, as well as practical skills that she now uses in the workplace. Notably, her work resulted in a peer-reviewed journal publication.
