Christopher Shaffer Interview Essay

Recently, I had an interview with Dr. Christopher Shaffer. I selected Dr. Shaffer because his main focus is anthropology, which is my intended major. Even though Dr. Shaffer specializes in biological anthropology, which is one of the four sub-fields of anthropology (I want to specialize in cultural/linguistic anthropology), his knowledge of anthropology and what it requires being an anthropologist, is still influential and insightful to my future. Dr. Shaffer’s terminal degree is a Ph.D., a doctorate in philosophy and biological anthropology, and he has a Master’s in anthropology. He currently works at Grand Valley State University as an assistant professor, which means he is on track for tenured faculty. Dr. Shaffer has held this position
Shaffer and that is anthropology is a broad field of study. This I already knew from taking anthropology courses (anthropology is a broad, holistic field that is separated into four sub-fields: linguistic, biological, cultural, and archaeology). However, I leaned towards the cultural/linguistic side of anthropology, but Dr. Shaffer stated that as an anthropologist “you need to broaden out into the other sub-fields as anthropology is also an interdisciplinary study.” An interdisciplinary study means that even though a person specializes in one field (for an example biological anthropology) that person still has to cross over into the other fields (practically cultural anthropology) to build a “whole picture” understanding of his or her own research. Anthropology being a broad study and an interdisciplinary study interests me because I have always enjoyed various topics from the understanding of the human mind and composition to understanding human culture and ways of life. Anthropology allows me to explore all subjects without infringing upon my main interest of cultural
Shaffer about being an anthropologist that did not fit with me was that an anthropologist must have patience. It does not matter which of the four sub-fields a person is working in as “all anthropologist must have patience.” Dr. Shaffer said that while he is observing monkeys (monkeys being a focus of biological anthropology because they are our closest ancestor) in the rainforest it could be a couple of days or it could be a couple of months before he sees something occur. When I asked him if my field of interest, cultural/linguistic anthropology, would have to require as much patience, he responded, “yes.” The reason being I would have to wait for more information to be presented to further my own cultural and linguistic studies. For me, patience has never been a strong suit, which is why when Dr. Shaffer said that anthropologist must have patience it did not compute with my thought for an ideal career. Now, these pieces of information I did not favor (becoming a teacher and patience). However, I was not discouraged from my future goal of becoming an anthropologist. The aspects that I found favorable (curiosity, a broad field of study, and graduate institutions willing to pay the student to attend) outweighed the unfavorable aspects. From these favorable aspects of anthropology, I found many more favorable aspects about anthropology, which leads me to my conclusion that anthropology will be a perfect career for