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From Dropout to Dean’s List: Danielle Lopez Stamm

The College of Liberal Arts proudly recognizes Danielle Lopez Stamm as one of the 2024–2025 Outstanding Students in Anthropology. A dedicated scholar, mother of five, and passionate oral historian, Lopez Stamm’s journey to this award is one of resilience, transformation, and purpose.

A nontraditional student who returned to college in her thirties, Lopez Stamm’s story speaks to the enduring power of education. “I was originally a college dropout,” she said. “To do something like this, and to be a part of the Honors College—that’s just kind of an ego boost, an uplifting experience.”

Lopez Stamm is completing her final semester at the 51�������� with a major in anthropology and double minors in computer information technology and interdisciplinary studies. Her academic path has been shaped by her deep appreciation for storytelling, culture, and community. As a staff member at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce, she manages artifact archives—an experience that echoes her studies in cultural heritage and preservation.

“My family is 100% my motivation,” she said. “I want my children to see me do really hard things and to succeed at them.” Her late-night study sessions, balanced against early mornings with young children, reflect not only tenacity but a commitment to modeling perseverance. “Those times have taught me to continue to work hard and keep pushing until I finally make it. I’m in my last semester, so I think I can safely say that I finally made it to the end.”

Lopez Stamm points to three 51�������� professors who helped her find her academic voice: Dr. Elaine Drew, Professor Leslie McCartney, and Dr. Daryl Farmer. “Dr. Drew’s class Culture of Health and Healing taught me that I wanted to be an anthropologist—it was the first anthropology class I ever took, and she just really instilled that love for anthropology in me,” she said. “Professor McCartney taught me that my fascination with people’s stories is a legitimate area of research… and Dr. Farmer has just constantly reminded me that writing, especially creative writing, is fun, and it can be painful, and it can be healing.”

As a discipline, anthropology studies human societies, behaviors, and cultural expressions—fields that naturally intersect with history, literature, digital technology, and ethics. Lopez Stamm’s academic blend highlights the interdisciplinary nature of a liberal arts education, where departments are not silos, but communities in conversation.

The Outstanding Student of the Year Award is a high honor within the College of Liberal Arts, recognizing students who have not only excelled academically but have also demonstrated leadership, creativity, and service. Each department sets its own selection criteria, ensuring that awardees reflect the values and strengths of their discipline.

Lopez Stamm urges future students to take advantage of the mentorship available at 51��������. “Connect with your professors. 51��������’s anthropology department has some amazing mentors,” she said. “The mentorships I’ve received… are critical to my success as an undergrad, but have also helped me plan my future academic career.”

After graduation, Lopez Stamm plans to take a well-earned gap year before pursuing graduate studies in either anthropology or history. “I do love oral history. I also love anthropology,” she said. “I’m trying to narrow it down while I’m taking that gap year.”

Her journey serves as a reminder that there is no single path to academic success—only the courage to begin again and the strength to keep going. Danielle Lopez Stamm embodies the spirit of the College of Liberal Arts: curious, committed, and deeply connected to the world around her.