Talia Neelis (left) and Clare Haru Crowston, Dean of Arts (right)
Talia Neelis has won the Governor General’s Silver Medal Award in Arts for graduating with the highest average in the Faculty of Arts at UBC.
Talia graduated this spring with a B.A. Honours in Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies and a Minor in Art History. As the recipient of the Governor General’s Silver Medal Award in Arts, Talia achieved the highest academic standing upon graduation from her degree program. Talia credits her success to a sincere love of the subject matter she studied, as well as support and encouragement from the academic community of instructors, students and, staff around her.
On what made her choose these fields of study, Talia revealed that, “I’ve always been interested in visual and material culture. My mom is a painter and my dad researches ancient Buddhist petroglyphs, so I grew up surrounded by art and a curiosity for old tangibles. After taking AMNE_V 170: Temples, Tombs, and Tyrants, with Professor Megan Daniels, I knew I wanted to get more involved with the department while balancing out my course load with more contemporary art history knowledge. I also have a passion for languages, so learning about history and etymology through visual culture is the perfect way for me to align my interests.”
An active member of the student community, Talia distinguished herself not only through her academic performance, but also through leadership roles and participation in various student-run projects. Talia served as the 2023W and 2024W Editor-in-Chief for Logos, the AMNE undergraduate journal, and as an active team member on the Experiencing Antiquity Project. When asked what her biggest takeaway from her time at UBC was, Talia highlighted the importance of community. “[People] really make a place. UBC is such a huge school, and I think it seems daunting to everyone when they get here. The communities I’ve built, and the friends who have become my family, are what I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life, and they enabled me the most to grow personally and academically.” She continued that, “the people who really support you and love you will nurture your academic and professional passions, and the intellectual stimulation and enjoyment from your subject will allow you to pour more of yourself into those relationships.”
This fall, Talia will begin a PhD in Archaeology at the Cotsen Institute, UCLA. She will be specializing in prehistoric Cypriot archaeology. “My supervisors specialize in Levantine and Greek archaeology, but the program is interdepartmental, so I hope to explore opportunities in Mesoamerican archaeology as well.”
The Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies is delighted to congratulate Talia on this incredible achievement. We wish her every success on the journey to come.
