Dennis Culliton UG '84

History Teacher and non-profit director at The Witness Stones Project

[I]t was so wonderful and easy for me to be an anthropology major, because I was interested in every single part of it. And I couldn’t get enough of it. I just loved it.

Dennis Culliton graduated from the UMass Anthropology Department in 1984. Dennis studied Cultural Anthropology and also majored in Economics during his time at UMass. After graduation, he worked in a variety of different jobs but his most recent were as a history teacher in Guilford, Connecticut, where he got the inspiration to launch his nonprofit, The Witness Stones Project, dedicated to unearthing the history of slavery in the north and paying tribute to the enslaved individuals who lived here. 

“...for a kid who was on the GI Bill, and on financial aid, I was like, “I don't care if I'll ever make money, I— this is what I want to do. I want to study cultures.” And it was so wonderful and easy for me to be an anthropology major, because I was interested in every single part of it. And I couldn’t get enough of it. I just loved it.” 

“I think this stuff in the long run is what saves our souls...” 

[Interview edited on 2021]