Scholarships support Anthropology alumna hoping to make difference

Manna Mathews had plenty of reasons to choose Auburn, including an exceptional anthropology program and a campus she’d loved from the moment she first saw it. But when decision day arrived, one factor rose above the rest: affordability — made possible, in part, by the generosity of the Auburn Family.

“Scholarships have allowed me to come to Auburn without the stress of being in debt or wondering how I am going to pay for my education,” Mathews said. “They have allowed me to give time to an unpaid internship, find my passion and explore my career path."

That intended career path is law enforcement and probation, where Mathews plans to make a positive impact on others as a probation officer in the corrections system.

“Helping people get their lives back on track is now a passion of mine, and I am hoping I will be able to do that in my career,” she said.

Why anthropology?

A native of Daphne, Alabama, Mathews was awarded several scholarships, including the John F. Harmon Endowment for Scholarships in Archeology in the College of Liberal Arts. She recently earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology — an area some may see as an unexpected launchpad for a future in law enforcement.

“The biggest thing that anthropology and law enforcement have in common is people,” she said. “Anthropology has helped me broaden my vision and understand perspectives other than my own. This applies heavily in law enforcement because everyone has a different background, and you have to be understanding of people who might be different from you.”

The program’s curriculum allows students to explore their areas of interest through open electives, enabling Mathews to earn minors in sociology, psychology and political science. While exploring multiple disciplines, she learned more about law enforcement — and related career possibilities — in SOCY 3250, “Sentencing and Corrections.”

“Thanks to Dr. Weaver and this class, I was able to get an internship with the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Parole,” Mathews said. “It changed my focus on where I want to end up after graduation.”

That experience was part of a bigger picture. At Auburn, Mathews stepped into high-stakes, real-world work, interning with the U.S. Probation Office of the Southern District of Alabama, where she shadowed officers as they met with probationers and testified in court. She also conducted research at Auburn’s archaeological field school at Camp Watts in Notasulga, Alabama.

Together, these experiences made for an exceptional Auburn education — pairing challenging coursework with opportunities that helped shape her career. For Mathews, it was exactly what she wanted out of college.

“The workload was intense, but it is easy to care about content you have a passion for,” she said. “And it’s even easier when you have professors who truly care about what they are teaching.”

Scholarship support

Thanks in large part to the Auburn Family’s generosity, Mathews is graduating without student debt — unburdened by the weight of student loans and free to step into what’s next. Her experience helped her see that scholarships don’t just help students stay in school; they keep dreams within reach.

“It is hard to come to a new town and work on a degree while also having a job, so any amount can ease the stressors of being a college student,” she said. “I am lucky to be graduating debt-free, and it is all because of the generosity of donors. Auburn truly is a family.”