From Art to Anthropology: An Enlightening Conversation with Professor Sarah Reedy

Professor Sarah Reedy didn’t set out to become a biological anthropologist. In fact, she began her college career as an art major. But a general education class at the University of Tennessee opened her eyes to a new world, and changed her life.

“I had no idea anthropology was a thing,” she told me in our recent conversation. “But I was always interested in it because I used to watch National Geographic and my parents would get the magazines and I loved it. When I was a kid, I used to dig for ‘dinosaur bones’ in my backyard. I was always that person before I even knew it was something I could do as a job.”

That unexpected anthropology class led her to switch majors, and eventually, she found herself immersed in skeletal biology and paleoanthropology. One pivotal moment came when she took an osteology course with a professor connected to the university’s forensic anthropology research facility—known informally as “the Body Farm.” This experience helped solidify her love for biological anthropology, especially the stories bones can tell about life, death, and culture.

Today, Professor Reedy teaches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, specializing in bioarchaeology with a focus on human growth and development in past populations. In the past, while working on her dissertation, her research explored children’s skeletons from the Industrial Revolution, raising broader questions about inequality, disease, and systemic issues across time.

Professor Reedy also referred to the interesting shifts in her field of study. “So sometimes in the past, we've looked at skeletons just for the sake of looking at skeletons and what they tell us about a person, but now we're putting a little more cultural theory into our skeletal practice.” It’s about connecting past suffering to modern issues, and hopefully using that knowledge to make change.

As a lecturer, Professor Reedy has found deep fulfillment in her role. After becoming a mother during her PhD program, she chose to direct her energy toward education in a way that supported both her professional goals and her family life. “I wanted to be a very present parent,” she said. That’s when she realized she wanted to prioritize working directly with students. “I'm doing exactly what I want to do, and I get to have the flexibility to be with my kids.”

Professor Reedy also emphasized the importance of public engagement in anthropology, especially through podcasts, blogs, and books. “I’m a podcast listener,” she said. She does amazing work hosting the UMass podcast, AnthroHub. “Our students at UMass who do the podcast, they love it. They really enjoy doing it. They learn a lot of skills.”

She recommended shows like Ologies by Alie Ward and This Podcast Will Kill You for students curious about science and health. She also praised books like Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer for blending scientific and Indigenous ways of knowing.

When I asked what advice she’d give aspiring anthropologists like me, she recommended: “Be flexible with yourself, and allow yourself the freedom to take whatever opportunities come your way. Wherever you go, you will always get to learn new things."