Zack Fowler, B.A. 2016

B.A., Cultural Anthropology and Global Health (2016)

How has being a Cultural Anthropology graduate from Duke helped shape you personally and/or professionally?

"Studying Cultural Anthropology at Duke gave me a degree of comfort and curiosity around social and societal nuances that has been absolutely invaluable. The work that I do now involves thinking critically about word choice, theories of change, and frameworks - all of which I can tie back to the type of thinking I was encouraged to practice during my CulAnth coursework. It's also worth noting that my connection to Duke professors led to my first career opportunity after Duke, and that opportunity, in turn, led me to where I am now."

What advice would you give students in Duke's Cultural Anthropology programs? 

"Lean into the language and methodologies around cultural anthropology. Embrace what it feels like to study something complex and nuanced using different lenses and frameworks and internalize the flexibility and careful analysis that comes with it. It will serve you well long-term."