Student Snapshot: Nora Stocovaz ’25
As a double major in anthropology and classical studies, Nora Stocovaz ’25 was in seventh heaven last year, as she conducted fieldwork with her professor and classmates in Greece. A recipient of the 1783 Scholarship and member of the Archaeology Club and Human Cultures House who also serves as chief of staff of Student Senate and Orientation assistant, Nora says she enjoys the chance to build close connections with Dickinson professors and with students who have similar academic interests. And she’s been making the most of her classes—and connecting what she’s learning to current issues—since her very first academic experience at Dickinson.
Hometown:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Majors:
Anthropology and classical studies.
Clubs and organizations:
Archeology Club, Human Cultures House, Student Senate (chief of staff) and Orientation (student director).
Honors/scholarships/awards:
Eta Sigma Phi honor society and 1783 Scholarship.
Favorite book:
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern.
Favorite movie:
Akira.
Best thing about my majors:
The best thing about my majors has definitely been the close community within the majors. There are not many classics majors to begin with, and the language aspect of the major really helps build a close community among students and between students and professors. In addition, because of the small size of the major, there are a lot of unique opportunities afforded to students. I had the opportunity to travel to Greece with my professor and other classics majors over winter break for nearly no cost. It was really an awesome opportunity. The anthropology major also has a very cool community of people, and there is a lot of overlap between the classics, archaeology and anthropology majors. The anthropology major has lots of opportunities to travel that I am very excited to take advantage of in the years to come!
On choosing Dickinson:
One of the main reasons was the incredible opportunity to travel and study abroad. As a freshman I have already had the chance to travel with the college on a very extensive trip through Greece. I also chose Dickinson for the small size. My high school was very small, and I knew that I did not want to attend a large university. The small size of Dickinson allowed for an easy transition from high school to college. I got comfortable on campus quickly and got to know my whole class well. Most valuably, the small size really encourages students to develop relationships with professors. Dickinson professors make time for students.
Favorite place on campus:
The classics library.
Favorite Dining Hall food:
Rigatoni with vodka sauce.
Favorite class:
It is really hard to choose my favorite class, but I think it might be my First-Year Seminar, Ideas That Shaped the World. We read texts from The Iliad to The Communist Manifesto to The Lover. This course really felt like what I want out of college; it was an opportunity to read a lot of important texts that have had a huge impact on our world today (as the course title suggests). It forced me to think about a lot of big parts of our world and issues we face today. I am also currently taking two anthropology seminars, Life in the Anthropocene and Contesting Biological Anthropology. These two courses are incredibly engaging and excellent to take together. I feel like I have learned so much and been introduced to some fascinating concepts that are relevant to our world today.
As I kid, I wanted to be …
… a doctor.
Favorite professor:
Associate Professor of Classical Studies Scott Farrington. He taught my first-year seminar, Ideas That Shaped the World, and I also took his Greek 101 during my first semester. He taught me a lot about the transition to college from high school, and he has been a very important resource for me throughout my first year of college. He really cares about students learning the information he is teaching and wants you to succeed. But most important, he is really funny—he makes his lectures very entertaining.
If I could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, it would be …
… Emma Goldman.
About my research:
I am working with Assistant Professor of Anthropology Amalia Pesantes Villa on a research project regarding water and the wellbeing of Indigenous groups in the Amazon and Alaska.
Most important thing I’ve learned so far:
Just try things—even if it is scary!
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Published July 3, 2023