1) How did you become interested in the
math or science field while in high school?
From an early age, I was very interested in both the natural world and human history. In high school, I adored my biology classes, but hated the chemistry and physics ones—and don’t get me started on how I felt about math! I knew a future career in archaeology would require a solid background in “hard science” subjects, so I tried to take classes I knew would help me later in college, such as AP biology, anatomy and physiology, geology, and statistics. Even though I didn’t like all of them at first, I found useful applications of these subjects to archaeology.
2) Why did you choose to work in your
field?
My father, though not an archaeologist himself, fomented in me a love of all things old--especially if they came from the ground! He also taught me to appreciate things in the natural world, such as plants and animals. Furthermore, he is responsible for my interest in the daily lives of First (Native) Americans in the past. By the time I reached college, I knew I wanted to study the very first North Americans, but I wasn’t sure exactly what my calling within the discipline was. I met Dr. Tanya Peres, a zooarchaeologist here at MTSU, in 2005, and began working with her in the lab. Over the course of that year, I discovered that I loved looking at animal bones and what they can say about the people who deposited them. And, because I love gardening, I have decided I would also like to study the use of plants in the past when I get to graduate school!
3) What are some areas of your job that
you like the most?
Obviously, I love to play in the dirt! To unearth an animal bone no one has seen in thousands of years is an incredible and indescribable feeling. More importantly, I like to see how my hard work in the field and lab translates into saying something meaningful about people’s lives in the past. Archaeology has allowed me to combine all my interests without having to sacrifice a single one. I even get to play with databases and mapmaking software!
4) What one thing would you tell a
middle or high school girl who is considering majoring in STEM in college?
My apologies, but I have more than one! Don’t ever change your mind about what you really want to study just because you think you’re not capable of it, or that it’s too hard, or that you won’t ever make a living once you graduate from college. If you have a passion for something, everything will fall into place. Also, don’t be afraid to contact women who already work in fields you’re considering. They can tell you what it’s really like to do what you think you might like. Also, be prepared for the “adult” side of things—your job won’t always be fun and games, but don’t let that dissuade you from pursuing a career that, on the whole, you will enjoy.
4) Please provide a short biography and
a photo.
Lacey Fleming began digging in her front yard when she was four years
old. The shovel she used was taller than she, but she still managed to make some
impressive holes at that tender age. As she grew older, she considered several
careers (the most ambitious of which was the
astronaut-veterinarian-journalist-President track), but eventually realized the
only way she could turn everything she loved best into a viable career was to
become an archaeologist. She graduated cum laude from
5) What is your contact information?
(Phone number or email address)
This is optional.
lacey.fleming@gmail.com
6) Would you like to correspond with a
high school girl who is interested in entering your field?
Yes! I’ll even correspond with more than one!