About the Instructor: Ms. Creasy

Welcome to Anthropology 1, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. I’ll be your instructor. My name is Pam Creasy. Let me tell you a bit about myself . . .

I spent many years working in corporate settings before I decided to seek a degree in earnest. At San Bernardino Valley College, as I searched the bookstore for interesting and appealing courses that would fulfill graduation requirements, I tripped over an anthropology book, literally. As they often said in the sixties, “That trip changed my life!” I took the course, “Anthropology of Art,” and was totally hooked.

My pre-degree history includes training and employment as a junior accountant and as a human resources specialist. I have had the pleasure of attending Bakersfield College and San Bernardino Valley College in California, Fraser Valley University College and University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, then completing my undergraduate degrees and graduate school course work at University of Washington in Seattle.

SocioCultural Anthropology is my sub-discipline, with specialization in the Pacific Northwest Coast. My dissertation work is with the Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiutl) of the area on and adjacent to northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, considering the impact of one woman who worked in what is considered a “man’s field,” carving. As such, a couple of my sub-fields are women studies and Native art history. So, as you will see, much of anthropology is inter-disciplinary and holistic (you will soon learn about this term).

To me, the discipline of anthropology is filled with excitement and wonderful discoveries. I hope I can convey my enthusiasm and love of the discipline to you and that you will learn how knowledge of anthropological theories and methods can be used in many other settings, disciplines, and careers. I hope you will enjoy our class!