James Stolzel

Ashburn, Ontario
Anthropology, Trent University in Oshawa

“I think going to Trent, especially in Oshawa, is really about an intimate learning experience,” says James Stolzel, a new graduate of the Anthropology program at Trent University in Oshawa. “As a student you are more than a number on a checklist. Aside from the lasting friendships a student will inevitably make at Trent, the ability to build a rapport with professors is something which seems to be unique to this University. Being on a first name basis with professors is not only comforting, it provides the connection you need to really ‘make it’ in the world of academia.”

For James, the initial appeal of attending Trent in Oshawa was all about location; his hometown, Ashburn, Ontario, is only a short commute to the Durham campus. But over the course of his four years as a student, James says his reasons for remaining a Trent student developed substantially.

“I’ve come to appreciate the small class sizes and I’m continually impressed by how friendly, supportive and encouraging the professors are,” he explains. “They are all very involved in the field they teach and every professor I’ve had the pleasure of learning from is an active, contributing scholar. I always feel that what I’m learning is leading-edge knowledge.”

James himself has also been a leader in his program. In his final year at Trent, he co-founded the Oshawa Student Anthropology Association, the first anthropology club at the Oshawa campus. It is James’ hope that this new club will continue for years to come, carried forward by future generations of Trent in Oshawa students.

With a passion for exploring the socio-cultural side of anthropology, James is excited about his next academic adventure, an archaeological dig organized through the Trent in Belize field school program. He hopes to take the experiences learned here and through his years at Trent to eventually pursue a master’s degree exploring Shamanism.

Looking a little further down the road, James hopes to one day combine his two passions – anthropology and photography. “I haven’t quite figured out how to amalgamate anthropology and photography into a unified profession,” he says, “but that is my ultimate goal. I hope to one day contribute authentic and culturally sensitive photographs to anthropology and the world of photo-journalism.”