Abigail Owen

Why did you choose Dalton State? I had siblings who attended DSC and really enjoyed their time here. Plus, it’s an affordable college, and it’s close to home!

What does it mean to you to be part of the Roadrunner Nation? Being part of a community of students and teachers who take education seriously, and who are willing to put in the effort needed to succeed. I’m lucky to be here!

What do you plan to do after graduation? I plan on attending grad school and get a master’s degree in archaeology/osteoarchaeology. If I get really crazy I’ll go for a doctorate.  

Who is/was your favorite professor and why? I have so many professors who have poured into my life here as a student and done their utmost to help me succeed. Jerry Drye, Dr. Doyle Loughren, Dr. Lovey Mesco, Dr. Tammy Byron, Dr. Christian Griggs, Dr. Keith Perry, and Dr. Jeff Stanley are just a few of the many wonderful professors on campus. I’ve been very blessed to have amazing professors pretty much my entire time here at DSC. Thank you all for everything you do. You’ve all had a huge impact on who I am as a student and hopefully who I’ll be as a person. I will give a special shout out to Dr. Loughren for being so helpful and doing everything he can to help me pursue a career in archaeology! I can’t thank you enough.

What are some of your favorite activities in and around Dalton? Because I don’t live in Dalton and just come here for school, I’m not super familiar with all of the best spots, but I love The Perfect Cup (best smoothies on the planet), and the Sweet Spot for some fro-yo.

Where is your favorite study spot? The library or the bottom level of Pope are the best areas on campus to study in my opinion. If you can snag one of the coveted study rooms in the library, it’s a good day.

Where is your favorite hangout? Because I’m a procrastinator, when I study I’m also simultaneously goofing off, so probably the library or the bottom level of Pope.

Favorite comfort food? If it’s a warm carb, I’m basically sold.

What do you feel most proud of? I’m super proud of myself because last summer I went all alone to Ireland to participate in a four-week long archaeological field school. I learned so much, and I finally got a taste of archaeology which I’ve wanted to do since I was 12 years old. Plus, I did it all by myself, and I survived on my own in a foreign country!

If you could only keep five possessions, what would they be? My Siamese kitten, a picture of my deceased Grandmother and me, my trowel, my Chacos, and I guess my laptop or phone.

If you won the lottery, what would you do? I would pay off all of my family’s debts, and then take us all on a big trip to Europe. I also might buy a house.

What is a skill you’d like to learn and why? If being artsy was a skill I could learn, I would love to have it! My craft/art skills are sadly lacking.

What cheers you up? Spending time with the people I love, playing with my kitten or our dog, reading a good book/listening to an audiobook, and singing along to music.

Who is your hero? It’s a little ridiculous, but Indiana Jones. Watching the Indiana Jones films were what originally sparked my interest in archaeology. I wanted to be the female version of Indiana Jones and explore the world and discover new things. I will never be as cool as he is, but I’m certainly going to try!

If you could go back in history, who would you like to meet? As a history major, this question stresses me out because there are so many historical figures that I would love to meet. But off the top of my head, I think it would be super cool to meet DaVinci or Martin Luther.

Where is your favorite place to eat? Probably Panera because I sadly fit the trope of a basic white girl.

What did you want to be when you were a kid? An archaeologist.

As a Roadrunner, what does it mean to Run Boldly? It means not being afraid to pursue what you’re passionate about and to stand up for the things that you care about and believe in. One thing that I’ve really loved about being a Roadrunner and attending DSC is how supportive the professors are, and how they push you to grow and be the best student and person that you can be. I hope that even after I’ve graduated, that I continue to Run Boldly and with endurance the race that is set before me.