Ashton Macklin ’27 featured by Posse Foundation for prestigious research opportunities
Macklin is a Posse Houston Scholar at Carleton.
Ashton Macklin ’27 has been featured by the Posse Foundation in a piece titled, “Carleton Scholar Wins Two Prestigious Research Opportunities.” He spent last summer engaged in two fellowships that “honed his research skills” and “broadened his understanding of cultural dynamics.”
In June, Ashton participated in a Student Research Partnership with Professor Victoria Morse in Carleton’s History and Medieval and Renaissance Studies (MARS) department, focusing on medieval and Renaissance maps at Gould Library. His niche project centered on developing methodologies to analyze heraldic symbols on these maps and explore their political implications.
“The goal was to explore questions like, ‘When someone made this map and put this coat of arms on it, were they trying to forward a particular agenda of their patron?’” Ashton explains.
This experience not only enhanced his research skills but also set the stage for his first potential academic publication, with guidance from Carleton’s fellowship director, through the University of Minnesota Press.
Later in the summer, in July, Ashton joined the Larson International Fellowship, which took him to Berlin-Brandenburg to study urban agriculture and food autonomy.
“This fellowship focused on experiential learning—understanding the local culture through direct engagement,” he notes.
Ashton explored why Berliners source food locally, even when not directly involved in urban agriculture, with highlights including his enjoyment of pasture-raised eggs sourced within the city as a vivid example of Berlin’s vibrant consumption culture.