Learning to Love through Anthropology: Alexa Reed ’26

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Alexa Reed ’26

Alexa Reed ’26 drives to campus every day for her classes. After classes, she sometimes works on homework in Lower Beamer, a student hub on campus, before heading back to her family’s home, located ten minutes away from the College. As a commuter, Reed has had a different college experience than many of her peers due to not living on campus. However, it has still been filled with blessings.

Reed grew up miles from Wheaton’s campus, but when it came time to choose a college, an out-of-state school was appealing. But after only a semester, she realized that school wasn’t the best fit. She transferred to Wheaton for her to complete the rest of her four years. The supportive community she encountered helped her realize that this was the right decision for her.

Reed took an anthropology class to fulfill some class requirements and enjoyed it so much that she decided to stick with anthropology, which she integrated with Christian formation and ministry. “A lot of people don’t know what anthropology is, but I think they should, because it’s a discipline that people use and they don’t even realize they’re using it,” Reed said. In Reed’s words, anthropology is the “discipline of understanding people and the cultures they are in and applying that and researching that to help others understand.”

The anthropology department has become Reed’s on-campus home. She describes the department as being more than a group of students studying the same major; it’s a community. “It’s a very funny, interactive environment where we joke together, but it’s also a space where we receive the support we need,” Reed said. “The attitude of the department is shaped by the desire we all have to understand those who are different from us, and this helps us connect.”

This attitude has, in large part, been shaped by the department office coordinator, Jennifer Doty. “Jen has been the rock through my whole experience,” said Reed. “She makes the department. It’s not just the events she holds, but the feeling that you can talk to her about anything. That’s the security you need sometimes.”

Anthropology has transformed Reed’s perspectives. “I came to Wheaton as a very close-minded person,” she said. “Anthropology has helped me look at other people’s lives and step into their shoes, and see that other people’s experiences and perspectives can be helpful for how and what I learn about life.”

Reed recognizes that numerous skills she has developed throughout her time in the department translate into other parts of her life. “Anthropology has taught me how to talk to people and go beyond surface-level topics, like the weather,” Reed reflected. “It teaches you to ask real questions and better understand why people act the way they do.”

Her anthropology courses have also shown her how to adapt in different situations. “I’ve learned how to stay true to my faith and my morals, while understanding that some people have different faiths and morals,” Reed shared. “I don’t need to change to understand or love those who have different beliefs. Anthropology has taught me how to love them.”

Many of her classes at Wheaton, within and outside of the anthropology department, have taught Reed the importance of representing Christ well. “I’ve learned that a lot of people have a bad view of Christianity, and one thing Wheaton has taught me is that it is not a job for only one person but for the whole Christian community to change that perspective.”

Reed, who works part-time as a patient service representative at Northwestern, plans to transition to a full-time role there and complete a Master’s of Business Administration after graduation. Eventually, she hopes to serve in a Human Resources role at the hospital, in which she knows she will utilize many of the skills she gained at Wheaton. “You can apply anthropology to any aspect of your life,” she said. “I hope to impact people on a greater level than I am right now. Christ loves all people, so I will love them, too.”