Tell us about yourself. What did you major in and when did you graduate? And what was the topic of your Senior Honors Thesis?
Hey, I’m Thomas Verhay. I’m from Rochester and live there still, until I’m sent to Nowhere, USA for work. I double-majored in History and Anthropology with a minor in Museum Studies and Public History. I graduated in December 2023. My topic for my senior thesis was “Backyard Battlefield Archaeology,” where I practiced a downscaled version of battlefield archaeology using bullets.
What have you been up to since graduation?
Since I graduated, I have been working for EDR (Environmental Design and Research) in their CRM (Cultural Resource Management) department. Essentially, [I am] being paid to be an archaeologist. I’ve been able to travel all over New York as well as parts of Pennsylvania and even Cincinnati, Ohio. For a person fresh out of college, to get a job with EDR in this capacity is a dream come true!
Has your Senior thesis and/or the skills you cultivated while working on it played a role in any of your post-graduation activities or plans?
While I haven’t needed the senior thesis yet, the person who advised me, Dr. Alexander Smith, helped me immensely. Without him, I wouldn’t have gotten a job with EDR nor had the skills to continue to work there. A good advisor who shares your passion can make all the difference in your future!
Do you have any additional plans or goals related to your career and/or your other academic interests for 5-10 years?
I don’t even know where I’ll be tomorrow, let alone 5-10 years! In the near future, I hope to continue my work with EDR and hope to advance myself in both the company and the world of archaeology!