Jan Anderson

History master's student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I am a lifelong learner. Before studying History, I earned degrees in Geography and Archaeology. When COVID forced me to pivot, I returned to my childhood obsession with European History. I quickly found a home focusing on the Early Modern period.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

I have been studying at SFU since 1988, and returning for my third degree was a natural choice.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

Having spent a long time studying pre-history using only material culture, I am excited by the ability to be able to read about the past in people's own words. I am now studying manuscripts and wills, in particular, to examine how the dead in Early Modern London were treated. You can tell a lot about a society by how it treats bodies at and after death.

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

Early Modern England; Wills and Manuscripts/Parish Records; Death and Commemoration.

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

I endeavour to get as much practical experience as possible. I have held a Vice President's Research Award with the Books in English Parish's project (Dr. John Craig), which allowed me to work with archival material in a practical way. I have also completed a Research Trip to England delving into various archives. It is one thing to see pictures of archival material but quite another to actually handle 400-500 year-old documents. It was also a good experience learning how to find and organize retrieval of relevant material. I have taken various short courses at SFU through the Center for Educational Excellence and the Research Commons as well at the Institute for Historical Research at the University of London. Each course has been a piece of the puzzle as I learn to be a historian, an academic and an instructor. I also enjoy holding TA-ships in the archaeology department as the two disciplines of Archaeology and History have considerable overlap.

Have you been the recipient of any major or donor-funded awards? If so, please tell us which ones and a little about how the awards have impacted your studies and/or research

I have received two Graduate Fellowships, a History Department Research Travel Grant (TARA), a SHHRC-CGMS award, and a bursary from the Institute of Historical Research (University of London). These awards have allowed me to be a full-time student, as well as funding an extended research trip necessary to complete my MA. Thesis

What have been the most valuable lessons you've learned along your graduate student journey (or in becoming a graduate student)?

The most valuable lesson I have learned is that as hard as it is, it is the journey that matters the most. It's not a race to earn a piece of paper, its the lessons and skills that I am learning along the way that matter the most!

How do you approach networking and building connections in and outside of your academic community?

I am naturally curious and outgoing, so when I have the opportunity to connect with others, I like to ask them about their work and their passions and often add them to my social network. You never know where connections will lead!

What are some tips for balancing your academic and personal life?

I set a fairly strict schedule and treat school as a full-time job. As much as possible, I am at my desk at 9 a.m. and leave it at 5 p.m., and I try to leave weekends for family. Also, making sure to stay connected to others instead of working in isolation is very imporatnt.

Contact Jan:janeta@sfu.ca

Additional Links

• LinkedIn