2008 Woodie Awards
Professor Profile: A few skeletons in the closet
Caroline Davis
Issue date: 2/7/07 Section: News
Well, not in the closet per se -- in his office here at Washington and Lee, to be more exact. As an archaeology and anthropology professor, he has accumulated numerous replicas of skeletons and skulls over the years.
Professor Means only started teaching on campus last fall, but already has made a name for himself with his involvement in Washington and Lee's archaeological excavation known as "the Dig." Prior to teaching here, Professor Means taught at Virginia Commonwealth University and commuted to W&L during Spring Term 2004 and 2005 to help out with "the Dig."
"The dig's been going on for about thirty years…We've been trying to do some digging on the Colonnade because they're going to be doing renovations to these buildings. We'd like to do some archaeology before all the construction gets in the way," says Means.
He currently teaches World Archaeology, Introduction to Anthropology, Physical Anthropology, and last semester taught a class called Grave Matters. "In Grave Matters, we look at dead people and various incarnations," says Means. "It's a very popular class. I had about 10 more students than I was supposed to have."
Professor Means admits that he has always wanted to be a teacher. "I like being able to pass on my love for Anthropology and teaching is the best way to do that," he says.
"When you interact with students on a regular basis you hopefully learn to improve your teaching ability," says Means. "We're lucky here because we can make opportunities available for students that maybe we couldn't at other schools."
Professor Means tries to balance his love of teaching with his other scholarly endeavors. He has a B.A. in Anthropology and a minor in Physics from Occidental College, as well as a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Arizona State University. Currently, he is working on two papers that he will present at an upcoming conference. In addition, his book, "Circular Villages of the Monongahela Tradition," is coming out in the fall.
And when he's not busy publishing his works, Professor Means is conducting field work and research throughout the United States. He has worked on numerous sites in the American Southwest, the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic states, as well as Southern India.
Although his two-year teaching contract will end at the conclusion of next Spring Term, Professor Means has some dreams for his future outside of teaching.
"I would like to go to London, actually," says Means. "I want to go to see the British Museum… and I'd like to do the Sherlock Holmes walking tour of London and I'm sort of curious about the Jack the Ripper walking tour of London as well… I'd also like to go see the pyramids and the Great Wall of China."
Professor Means only started teaching on campus last fall, but already has made a name for himself with his involvement in Washington and Lee's archaeological excavation known as "the Dig." Prior to teaching here, Professor Means taught at Virginia Commonwealth University and commuted to W&L during Spring Term 2004 and 2005 to help out with "the Dig."
"The dig's been going on for about thirty years…We've been trying to do some digging on the Colonnade because they're going to be doing renovations to these buildings. We'd like to do some archaeology before all the construction gets in the way," says Means.
He currently teaches World Archaeology, Introduction to Anthropology, Physical Anthropology, and last semester taught a class called Grave Matters. "In Grave Matters, we look at dead people and various incarnations," says Means. "It's a very popular class. I had about 10 more students than I was supposed to have."
Professor Means admits that he has always wanted to be a teacher. "I like being able to pass on my love for Anthropology and teaching is the best way to do that," he says.
"When you interact with students on a regular basis you hopefully learn to improve your teaching ability," says Means. "We're lucky here because we can make opportunities available for students that maybe we couldn't at other schools."
Professor Means tries to balance his love of teaching with his other scholarly endeavors. He has a B.A. in Anthropology and a minor in Physics from Occidental College, as well as a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Arizona State University. Currently, he is working on two papers that he will present at an upcoming conference. In addition, his book, "Circular Villages of the Monongahela Tradition," is coming out in the fall.
And when he's not busy publishing his works, Professor Means is conducting field work and research throughout the United States. He has worked on numerous sites in the American Southwest, the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic states, as well as Southern India.
Although his two-year teaching contract will end at the conclusion of next Spring Term, Professor Means has some dreams for his future outside of teaching.
"I would like to go to London, actually," says Means. "I want to go to see the British Museum… and I'd like to do the Sherlock Holmes walking tour of London and I'm sort of curious about the Jack the Ripper walking tour of London as well… I'd also like to go see the pyramids and the Great Wall of China."
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