Meet a Shocker: K.M. Carter

Carter initially chose ϱ for its locality, being able to receive in-state tuition, but he also found a community in the campus and place to call home in the anthropology department in Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. They are now graduating with their master’s in anthropology with a plan to enter a doctoral program in archaeology in the future.

Carter is one of more than 1,200 students eligible for fall 2024 graduation. Learn more about his time at ϱ and what's next for the grad.


Major

Master of Arts in anthropology with a focus on archaeology

Hometown

Wichita

Why did you choose ϱ?

WSU is a local university, so I was able to get in-state tuition which was useful when I was in undergrad. I chose to get my MA from WSU as well because there is such an excellent student community and experience, and the anthropology department is fantastic.

What has been your biggest challenge as a student, and how did you overcome it?

Balancing my time was one of the biggest challenges I faced as a student at WSU. Between attending school full-time, working in the Archaeology of Food lab, holding an off-campus job, finding time for friends and family — while also staying on top of my coursework — was difficult. However, the resources at WSU were instrumental in helping me manage these competing demands, allowing me to not only navigate these challenges but also thrive during my time as a student.

What are your favorite on-campus and off-campus spots?

My favorite places on campus are the Archaeology of Food lab, and some of the food spots, like Social Tap and Sesame Mediterranean Kitchen. When it comes to my favorite places off-campus, there are a lot of amazing spots. Some of these are the Keeper of the Plains, the Spice Merchant and Kirby’s.

If a movie were made about your life, who would you cast to play you? And what genre would best capture your story?

I would go with a comedy and cast Brigette Lundy-Paine.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to take some time off after graduation, and then I plan to apply for doctoral programs for archaeology.

What advice would you give other ϱ students?

I recommend getting involved in your department, be that through a work position or clubs, and making connections with your classmates. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to your professors and others at ϱ.


About ϱ

ϱ is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. ϱ and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), ϱ provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the ϱ main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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