Amy Socha

Why FSU?

I chose to attend FSU for my master's degree in Anthropology because of the faculty and opportunities. My research interests closely aligned with those of my major professor, Dr. Halligan, and by working with her I have been able to greatly expand my professional network and find career opportunities that I otherwise would not have found. The institutional support for research and scholarship was also a factor in my decision. Through FSU I have been able to access a wide range of research tools and equipment both within my department and through the collaborative relationships between departments. Pursuing my degree at FSU also allowed me to train as a scientific diver to pursue my research in submerged archaeological landscapes.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I have always wanted to pursue a career in research and saw a graduate degree as being an important step in that direction. I was particularly attracted to the opportunities at FSU for my specific field of study: underwater geoarchaeology. This is a niche field and pursuing a graduate degree offered me the opportunity to be trained in this specialty and build my career from there.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

My research contributes to the greater understanding of the environmental changes that have affected people living in Florida for up to 15,000 years. I study people's interactions with water sources and the landscapes they inhabit, with a focus on how those things change over time. My thesis project helps contextualize prior archaeological work and provides directions for future work in the geoarchaeology of the Aucilla River.

Career aspirations

After completing my master's degree, I intend to work as a professional archaeologist before pursuing a doctoral degree. I want to focus my career on archaeological research, particularly of Late Pleistocene peoples and their relationship to water and the ways the landscapes they inhabited changed and affected their ways of life.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Pursue what interests you and be okay with adjusting your plans along the way. The project you first proposed in your application is not going to be the exact project you end up submitting, and that's not just okay, it's expected.

Accomplishments during graduate career

I trained and earned my AAUS science diver qualification and my IANTD Divemaster certification while in graduate school. I am a recipient of the Cecilia Connelly Scholarship for Underwater Archaeology; the Society for American Archaeology Paul Goldberg Award; and Eisele Award in Anthropology.