Anthropology Program at SUU Launches Students into Top Field Internships
Published: November 24, 2025 | Author: Kierstin Holloway | Read Time: 3 minutes
The Southern Utah University (SUU) Anthropology program is fostering a community of proactive and successful students who are translating their classroom knowledge into significant real-world achievements. Five students, in particular, highlighted the breadth of opportunity available through the program by completing highly competitive internship positions in their field.
Leah Hamblin, a senior anthropology major, worked as an interpretation intern at Kolob Canyons. She had wanted to complete one of the internships through SUU’s Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative (IIC) since learning about the program.
“The highlight of my internship was definitely meeting people from all over the world and watching them connect to new places. I loved inspiring awe,” said Hamblin. “It was an incredibly valuable experience. I learned a lot about what doing interpretation as a career would entail.”
Recent anthropology graduate, Soren Wood, completed an Eugene T. Polk archaeology internship with the Grand Canyon National Park. Wood was encouraged by a professor to apply for the internship. The highlight of his internship was getting paid to backpack in the Grand Canyon and do preservation work on pueblos and historic cabins.
“The professors are amazing and truly want the best for you. There are lots of opportunities within the program that can help you make connections and build a good foundation for after college,” said Wood, regarding SUU’s Anthropology program. “This type of education is unique and special; it broadens your understanding of humans and the world, and teaches you how to pay attention, critique, and hopefully fix what's broken in our world and expose deeper knowledge.”
Thomas Humphrey, a senior majoring in anthropology, with a double minor in History and the other in Public Lands, worked as a Youth Conservation Corps member in Yellowstone National Park.
“I think the highlight of my internship was being able to lead the recreation trips with these youth in a completely new environment for them,” said Humphrey. “I watched so many of them grow and learn from the experiences and opportunities they were given through this program, and being able to lead hikes and other trips through Yellowstone was truly an incredible experience for both myself and the youth.”
Phoenix Hopper, a junior in the anthropology program, was awarded a competitive summer mentorship through the American Anthropological Association as a recipient of the Ina Rosenthal-Urey Mentorship Program Award.
If someone were considering the Anthropology program, Hopper would tell them that SUU has the most amazing anthropology faculty.
“All of the anthropology professors care about their discipline and their students, and their courses reflect that,” said Hopper. “Anthropology is a welcoming community. I would encourage anyone with anthropological interests to take a class and learn some of the most interesting things there are to learn!”
Jalynn Lunceford recently graduated from SUU with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Art History. She has since completed an Archives and Collections internship at the Sealaska Heritage Institute in Juneau, Alaska. During the course of her internship, Lunceford gained many new skills, including mount-making, exhibition installation, and commercial displays.
“I would say, looking back over my time in the program, my favorite experience would be seeing
how these smaller opportunities (working on the Anthro Collection as an intern, working in the
Mammology collection over the summer) ended up helping me land an internship in Alaska and getting a foot in the museum world,” said Lunceford.
Lunceford encouraged those considering majoring in Anthropology at SUU that there are so many anthropological avenues to explore.
“There are many topics with so many great people to help them along the way,” Luncefored said. “They will end up in some amazing place they would have never considered. Even if you’re unsure, just do it. Wherever you’re meant to be in Anthropology, it’ll find you, and you’ll be so glad you did.
From national mentorships to inspiring public awe in Utah’s parks, these students exemplify the well-rounded success fostered by the dedicated faculty and engaging community of the SUU Anthropology program.
Tags: College of Humanities and Social Sciences Career and Professional Development Anthropology
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu