Anthropology Student Explores South Carolina’s Environmental History through Prestigious Penn State Fellowship  

Cheyenne Taylor overcame personal health challenges, found new purpose through Penn State’s ARISE Fellowship inspired by her family heritage.  

By: Emily Dougherty | June 23, 2025

Cheyenne Taylor, a transfer student from Broward College studying anthropology in the College of Sciences, isn’t just chasing a degree; she has reclaimed her educational journey and purpose after years of navigating medical challenges and uncertainty. 

After completing the Anthropological Research in Science Education program (ARISE), a summer institute in integrated anthropological sciences for underrepresented undergraduate students, this month at Penn State, Taylor says she has found purpose in her education while getting in touch with her family roots.  

Accepted into the Geographic Information Systems track (GIS), a spatial analysis method used to map data patterns, Taylor spent a week in the fast-paced program researching the ecological impacts of abandoned rice plantations in South Carolina, exploring how human-altered landscapes from the past may be influencing modern-day flooding and erosion patterns.  

“I wanted to see if the rice canals from old plantations are contributing to current environmental issues,” she says. “I found the soil may be more eroded in those areas, but South Carolina’s already marshy terrain made it challenging to figure out. The project opened up new questions I had not considered before.”  

She learned about the ARISE program through the Anthropology Department’s advising announcements, and when accepted, she didn’t believe it was real. “I thought it was a spam email,” she said. “I had to check with my mom to make sure it was a legitimate communication.”  

Taylor says that she did not see this kind of research in her path as she faced health challenges growing up. After receiving a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, she finally found the answer and strength she had been looking for.  

“Once I turned 18, I finally got my diagnosis. I had been struggling in school, always tired, and I didn’t know why,” she says. “Balancing school, work, and medical appointments was exhausting. But I gave myself a tough schedule, five classes, and just went for it. I surprised myself with how well I did.”  

She says her passion for anthropology stems from the roots of her heritage on both sides of her family, which has inspired her to explore the cultural connections from widespread communities.  

“When I learned how close the Creole culture in Belize is to the Gullah culture in South Carolina, it fascinated me,” Taylor says. “That’s what led me to anthropology. I have always loved history, but even more, I love understanding people.”  

Taylor says she was worried that her health could negatively impact her collegiate journey, and through mentorship at the ARISE program, she learned that each journey is unique.  

“Talking to doctoral students and professors really changed how I viewed my timeline,” she said. “I always felt behind. I started college late. But they told me to build my own path.”  

Looking back, she encourages other Knights, especially transfer students or those facing challenges, to not be afraid to attempt new things.  

“It can sometimes be difficult to talk to professors or apply for something you think you won’t get. But you never know until you try,” Taylor says.