PERSPECTIVES

Kristina Wiggins
Bachelor of Arts, 2012
Major: Anthropology
Outstanding Graduate in the Social Sciences

“While the formal education I have received here at UNR has been exceptional,” said Kristina Wiggins, “the experiences I will remember the most are those I have had in the lab and in the field.”

Two years ago, Kristina began volunteering in the Prehistoric Archaeology lab under the direction of Dr. Geoffrey Smith. She found that the lab work provided direction and focus to her studies and reinforced her love of archaeology. She was later hired as an archaeological technician. Professor Smith, along with Professors Richard Scott and Gary Haynes, served as Kristina’s mentors and later nominated her for the Outstanding Graduate award.

Last summer at the Prehistoric Archaeological Field School in Warner Valley, Oregon, Kristina had her first “hands-on” experience with archeology in the field. According to her mentors, Kristina never lost sight of the scientific questions that were driving the research, and soon she was teaching other students the skills that she had developed quickly.

Although very few students (including graduate students) are invited to present their research to the Society for American Archaeology, Kristina recently made a presentation to the society’s annual meeting. She will soon be submitting her written work for consideration by local and regional journals. She has also been the recipient of several grants, including a substantial research stipend from the McNair Scholars Program and a grant from the Northwest Research Obsidian Studies Laboratory.

Prior to enrolling at Nevada, Kristina earned an Associate of Arts degree from Truckee Meadows Community College. At both institutions, she has appeared on the Dean’s List every semester. In addition, she has been involved in extracurricular activities, serving most recently as president of a very active UNR Anthropology Club.

Kristina’s faculty mentors agree that “Kristina has the mix of intelligence, commitment, drive, and genuine dedication that makes her the type of student that faculty dream of working with,” and that she has “tremendous potential to excel in her future endeavors including graduate school and a career in academia if she so chooses.”