From Aha Moment to Lasting Impact: How the Barbara Jean Sibley Student Award Endowment is Opening Doors for Anthropology Students

In the early 1980s, Barbara Sibley was nearing the end of her cultural anthropology degree and unsure of what would come next. Then, she enrolled in a new course called medical anthropology, and it was at that moment she knew what she would do with her life.

“I loved studying about people in the world, and I also wanted to make a difference,” Barbara remembered. “It was my aha moment — this was how human physiology, human culture, and medicine all fit together.”

That medical anthropology course laid the groundwork for the physician she would become. A human physiology course led to two additional years of pre-med coursework. A research assistant position in the College of Medicine connected her with pediatrician and mentor Burris “Duke” Duncan. Eventually, she was accepted to Stanford University School of Medicine.

Today, U of A alumna and pediatrician Barbara Sibley is the founder of the Barbara Jean Sibley Student Award Endowment in the School of Anthropology. Her gift supports student recruitment and retention, as well as research,
conference travel, and tuition.

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For 32 years, Sibley has practiced pediatrics in Medford, Oregon, serving a diverse and often high-need patient population. Her anthropology training continues to shape her work. Caring for families across generations has given her what she describes as an “ethnographic continuity” — understanding cultural patterns, family histories, and lived experience. That long view — seeing how support shapes lives over time — also informs how she thinks about students.

Her commitment to giving back is largely rooted in her own undergraduate experience. Shortly after transferring to Arizona, Barbara received a retroactive full merit scholarship.

“It was a huge pat on the back,” Barbara said. “I realized someone was noticing what I was doing and who I was. I think believing in a student’s potential is a big way to support them.” 

Through the Sibley Endowment, that belief translates into opportunity. In 2025, six students received awards, which helped support field school attendance, tuition, as well as participation at the Society for American Archaeology meetings. 

Sophomore Lily Schmidt is a dual major in anthropology and Classics. She wants to study classical archaeology and an important step toward that goal is to attend the 2026 summer session of the Segesta Field School in Italy. It will be her first excavation and would be difficult to attend without outside financial support.

“The study of anthropology requires students to see the world and the people in it,” Schmidt said. “This award allows us to do just that.”

That belief — that students thrive when someone recognizes their potential — is now helping shape the future of the School of Anthropology.

"Barbara Sibley’s generosity ensures that our anthropology students are not only able to continue studying in the classroom, but also that they can extend that learning through off-campus experiences,” said Janelle Lamoreaux, interim director of the School of Anthropology. “At a moment when the need for historical and cultural curiosity and understanding is measurable, we are so grateful to Barbara Sibley for making such educational opportunities possible.”

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This story was included in the spring 2026 Developments newsletter.