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Senior Meghan Vacca is examining the concept of sacred space throughout history in intensive research this semester.
A participant in Lafayette’s distinctive EXCEL Scholars program, Vacca is collaborating with Ida Sinkevic, associate professor of art. In EXCEL, students assist faculty members with research while earning a stipend.
“Meghan is examining and helping to define the idea of sacred space from the perspectives of anthropology and art history. She’s addressing the psychological need for these buildings,” says Sinkevic.
“I am researching the different concepts of sacred space throughout time and connecting them with architecture and iconographic or religious imagery. My focus has been on different religious notions of sacred and how that idea is reflected in places of worship and associated artwork as well as secular and domestic dwelling areas,” says Vacca, a dual major in art and anthropology and sociology.
Vacca has been compiling a bibliography from many different sources and disciplines. She feels this cross-disciplinary work is helping to hone her research skills.
“I am learning about this subject in anthropology, as well as art history, because much of the information comes from what anthropologists have found in field research. I have never done such a comprehensive research project before. I consider this good preparation for my honor’s thesis project,” she says.
Vacca plans to enter graduate school for museum studies after Lafayette.
“This project will help me do further research assignments in grad school and perhaps lead me into a field to specialize in,” she says.
She adds, “Lafayette provides an excellent opportunity for undergraduates to gain research experience. I feel if I had gone to a large university, I wouldn’t have this same opportunity because it would be given to graduate students.”
Vacca is a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority and the Family Weekend 2002 Planning Committee. She is vice president of the Panhellenic Council and works in the College Archives and Special Collections and College Slide Library.
Megan Vacca ’03 delved into the changing concept of sacred space through history as an EXCEL Scholar with Ida Sinkevic, associate professor of art.