Arianne Boileau
Occupation: Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Mount Royal University
Hometown: Montreal, Quebec
Dr. Arianne Boileau completed her MA in Anthropology at Trent under the supervision of Eugene Morin. Her project used zooarchaeology to examine the foraging patterns of animal resources at an early Maya community in Belize. After Trent, she earned her PhD from the University of Florida where her work investigated resilience and transformation in political economy at the Maya archaeological site of Lamanai, in Belize, under conditions of Spanish colonialism. More specifically, she looked at how Indigenous elite and non-elite households adapted to Spanish contact by using animal remains as a proxy for changing socio-political and economic activities in the community. Her current research interests include human-environment interactions, political economy, colonialism, isotope analysis, ancient DNA, and Mesoamerican archaeology.
Trent Experience:
“Trent was a fantastic university to attend for my master's degree. It prepared me well for my future career in academia and archaeology by providing me with critical professional skills, such as communication, grant writing, project development, and academic writing. The program was rigorous and asked a lot from the students in the best of ways. It pushed me to think critically about the research I was producing while building on the foundations of those who came before me.”
Cassandra Hamilton
Occupation: Pilot – Flight Instructor
Hometown: Whitby, Ontario
Cassandra completed her BA at Trent and later her MA under the supervision of Eugen Morin. Her research looked at bone processing techniques at the site of Vale Boi. Her investigation found that dietary behaviours of the site inhabitants were more varied than originally believed. Her research interests included archaeozoology, the arrival of hominins in North America, and the Neanderthal/Homo Sapiens transition. Cassandra now works as a pilot and flight instructor using the numerous soft skills she developed while studying at Trent to help her excel in her current career.
Trent Experience:
Cassandra’s time at Trent helped her develop vital skills that she has been able to carry with her into her current career and life. This includes skills such as being able to manage time effectively and knowing how to work both independently and in group settings. Her time at Trent also taught her how to speak in front of groups, and how to find the right balance between work and personal life.
Corrie Hyland
Occupation: PhD Candidate for Archaeological Science at University of Oxford and a member of the Baikal Archaeology Project
Hometown: Courtice, Ontario
Corrie received a BSc in Archaeology and her MA in Anthropology from Trent. Her Masters research, under the supervision of Dr. Paul Szpak, focused on the multi-stable isotope analyses of mummified human remains from the Virú Valley Peru. This research contributed to our understanding of the importance of maize farming to coastal societies in early-state development, and provided insights into the life histories of individuals killed in a ritual event. After completing her Masters, Corrie moved to the University of Oxford for her PhD where her current research uses compound specific approaches to radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analysis to better understand the importance of freshwater fish and seals to the diets of hunter-gather-fishers from Cis-Baikal, Russia.
Trent Experience: Sessional instructor at the University of Northern British Columbia
Hometown: Cornwall, Ontario
Brent completed his MA in Anthropology at Trent under the supervision of James Conolly. His research used eco-cultural niche modeling to test for changes in settlement distribution during the Neolithic of Southeast Europe to see how changes in agricultural practice over time could modify the kinds of climates and landscapes that were available. After his MA, Brent completed his PhD at the University at Buffalo. He now works as the Senior Curator at the Cornwall Community Museum and as a sessional instructor. His research interests include archaeology, the Neolithic, and geographic information systems.
Trent Experience:
“I credit my time at Trent as being the single most useful experience of my academic and professional career. The program was so rigorous that my subsequent PhD coursework was a breeze. I am grateful for the approach taken by the anthropology department to focus a significant amount of time on developing practical skills.”