Pursuing the Big-Picture Perspective with Dr. Sally Steindorf
Dr. Sally Steindorf (C’97) emphasizes holistic thinking in her sociology and anthropology classes and in the multidisciplinary Global Studies program she directs. A keen advocate of field research, she has co-directed several study abroad programs in India and Nepal, where she advises students on their research projects—some of which have been presented at academic conferences. Dr. Steindorf holds a PhD in cultural anthropology from Syracuse University.
What do you love about teaching at Principia?
In my classes we talk about difficult topics like global poverty, sex trafficking, and refugees. I love that we can discuss the academic dimension of these issues as well as how to deal with them metaphysically. I also love the opportunity to teach students outside the classroom. And I’m very excited that I got to help design and will co-lead the 2018 New Zealand Abroad, where we’ll learn about the indigenous Maoris.
What research are you working on right now?
As the director of the Global Studies program, I am researching the internationalization of curriculum in higher education and exploring ways we can apply this to Principia. I am also overseeing a research project on Principia’s study abroad program with a post-graduate intern.
If you could give students only one piece of advice, what would it be?
Follow your passion.
What led you to teaching?
I wanted to help students see the connections between complex, global issues—how poverty is connected to access to education which is connected to gender inequalities, for example. It is very exciting to help students identify the most effective point in the system at which to intervene with possible solutions. Recently, several students have explored starting their own non-profit organizations along these lines.
What work would you pursue if you weren’t a professor?
I would either be a documentary filmmaker or work at the grassroots level on an issue like poverty or with refugees.
If you had a day off and weren’t allowed to use it to catch up on work, what would you do?
I would love to spend it hiking and camping, ideally in a mountain setting.