Alexander Castanes

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

The size of the school, the beauty of the campus, and the proximity to Seattle.

What have you been doing since graduation?

I’ve worked some weird jobs, lived in Portland for a couple years after graduating, and am now going to embark on a funemployed adventure to do some “soul-searching!”

How did Lewis & Clark prepare you for your job?

This is a hard one. There are many things that I learned. A big part of how I carry myself professionally is modeled on the care, attention, and intention I received from a lot of my professors at Lewis & Clark. While the classes I took helped me write and exposed me to new forms of knowledge and experiences different from my own, my professors taught me how to interact with people. Which is surprisingly difficult!

Why did you major in sociology and anthropology?

I initially began as a pre-med track Chem major. I took an Intro to Anthropology course with Kabir my first semester. After that, it was SOAN major, chem minor, with pre-med prerequisites. By sophomore year, it was SOAN or nothing. I chose that major because I had never been so intellectually stimulated and gratified at the same time. People will give SOAN majors a lot of crap because it doesn’t lead to perhaps as “tangible” careers as other majors. Who cares. SOAN teaches you how to be a human! That can be applied and twisted in any job interview.

Why did you minor in Latin American and Latino Studies?

Easy. After Cuba, and taking some Spanish courses, I was a single class away from an LALS minor.

What was your favorite class? How did it expand your knowledge?

You probably have received this response so many times– Sepideh’s Anthropology of Suffering class blew my world open. Recently, my little cousin took her own life. In Anthro of Suffering, we read a lot on suicide, specifically as a phenomenon in northern indigenous communities. We struggled as a class with this idea that maybe suicide is a “selfless” and not a “selfish” act. Having spent so much time with that topic helped me put perspective into my cousin’s passing and her decision. I’m so thankful for that.

Where did you find your community on campus?

I found it in my freshman dorm (Forest), the Ray Warren Symposium, the Black Student Union (even though my white self was not a member), the SOAN professors, pick-up basketball, but damn, it was hard to find.

Who was your mentor on campus? Why do you consider this person your mentor?

Kim Cameron-Dominguez, Kimberly Brodkin, and Sarah Warren were all my mentors. Kim Cameron-Dominguez taught me to be nice to myself. Kim Brodkin led me through Ray Warren and provided a lot of laughter. Sarah Warren and her family feel like second family in Portland.

Sociology and Anthropology Latin American Studies