Double-major aims toward academic career

RELEASED: November 21, 2007

DANVILLE, KY—Ezra Howard '08, a religion and anthropology double major from Nashville, isn't accustomed to having a lot of free time—and that's just how he likes it.

In addition to being a double major, which is common among Centre students, Howard also studied abroad in Strasbourg, France, during the entire fall semester last year.

"As a student of anthropology, the three-month study abroad experience was amazing," he says. "I took French for three years in high school and one semester at Centre and really wanted a more in-depth and immersed experience of the culture and language, which the three months in Strasbourg were good for."

When Howard isn't visiting the Eiffel Tower or studying for a religion or anthropology exam, he can be found doing collaborative research with his professors at Centre.

Right now he's a research assistant to Phyllis Passariello, professor of anthropology. He also is continuing work with David Hall, associate professor of religion and philosophy, and Wilson Garret '07. They are working on an article concerning the recently depicted death of Captain America by Marvel Comics as an illustration of the sacrificial process. This past summer, he worked with Beau Weston, N.E.H. Professor of Sociology, on a research project. Howard also attends Environmentally Conscious Centre Organization (ECCO) meetings when he can find the time.

Howard has family ties to Centre—his aunt, Carole Howard Strecker, graduated from the College in 1977.

"That was my original introduction to Centre," Howard says. "Honestly, the great scholarship gifts were the deciding factor. I knew very little about Centre when I accepted enrollment. I've been pleasantly surprised with my experience."
 
Howard's career aspirations are simply put: "Academia, all the way." He is considering a career as a college professor.

"There are several reasons for this, the first being that I want to avoid all actual responsibility as long as I can," he laughs. On a more serious note, Howard says that for him, academia is a field consisting of tasks of his own choosing.

"I can read what I want to read, talk about what I want to talk about, do what I want to do," he says. "That, and I can make a contribution to the collection of wisdom, as well as to the education of future young people."

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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