BA in Anthropology

Matthew Davis, 2026

Degree: BA in Anthropology 

Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Matthew returned to the classroom, after leaving his previous college during COVID, to earn his degree while continuing to work at the International Spy Museum. He chose George Mason for its location and was excited about the university’s range of available courses.

“Once I saw the massive slate of history, archaeology, and anthropology classes I would have available at George Mason, I was sold. Having the option to flexibly schedule a mix of in-person and online classes to fit my work schedule was also a huge bonus.” 

Eventually he hopes to continue studying classical archaeology and indulge his love for Byzantine history in grad school.

Most impactful course: “Andean Archaeology with Professor (Haagen) Klaus was probably the most fascinating class I've ever had the pleasure of taking. I went in as a complete novice on the topic, and by the end I was hungry for just one more lecture and actively seeking connections to the course material in my personal life.” 

Advice for future Patriots: “Go to office hours! My professors were always happy to see me drop in so they could help clear up confusion on course materials or give solid writing and career advice. I had never really taken advantage of office hours before coming to George Mason, and choosing to seek out my professors' support when I needed it helped me succeed.”

Regaining his confidence: Matthew had lost a lot of confidence in his writing during the pandemic, so working through his first higher-level research paper and receiving such positive feedback lifted a significant weight off his shoulders. The writing process can be challenging, but the payoff from that first major project has stayed with him ever since.