William Schaffer Major: Anthropology Year of graduation: 2005

Where do you live and work?

I live and work in Miami, at the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy

What is your occupation?

Associate Director/Osteologist, One Miami (8DA11) Osteology Laboratory

Chief Osteologist/Assistant Field Director, Preacher's Cave Archaeological Project, Eleuthera, Bahamas

What did you do immediately after graduating from UMass Boston?

I attended a mortuary archaeology field school in Giecz, Poland, relaxed on the Cycladian Island of Syros in Greece, and aided the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts once I returned to the US.

What has been your most worthwhile professional experience so far?

Uncovering the most complete Lucayan Taíno skeleton documented thus far that pre-dates Columbus' voyage to the New World by half a century.

What are the one or two events, courses or people that stand out in your mind from your time at UMass Boston?

Honestly, there are so many other people, courses and events I could elaborate on, but these two stand out most:

Forensic Anthropology with Dr. Ann Marie Mires - She brings over 20 years of experience as the head of the Human Identificiation Unit within the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to the classroom and utilizes a comprehensive approach to the analyses of human skeletal remains as well as emphasize the importance of interpreting human adaptive behavior through bioarchaeology in the application of forensics.

Advanced Historical Archaeology Field School at Shelter Island, NY with Dr. Steve Mrozowski - He has extensive experience conducting historical archaeology throughout the northeast and has written some poignant resources as the benchmark for interpretation in a multidisciplinary environment. This one-month field school provided me with the essential techniques for excavation, which I still use today, and the intrigue associated with archaeological sites containing material culture from multiple ancestral backgrounds.

Has studying anthropology impacted your perspective (personally,
professionally, or other)? If so, how?

It has certainly impacted me personally. I feel it is the quintessential vehicle in which to view the world. I have so much respect for other cultural traditions and customs. I can almost detach myself from the seemingly stark differences between me and people of various other racial and ethnic backgrounds to find significance and meaning.

Is there a piece of advice you wish someone had offered you while still an
undergraduate student at UMass Boston?

Doing contract archaeology (CRM) will burn you out faster than a hot knife through butter. Water moccasins in the Everglades, poison ivy littered all over a hammock, fire ants whose venom lingers on your body long after you've smashed their 1/8 inch frame and dispersed it further on your skin -- but hey, if you like what you're doing, who cares?