Maria (Trull) McDonald

Ancestors

Daughter of Robert Charles Trull and [private mother (1950s - unknown)]

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Biography

Maria is the 20 granddaughter. of King Edward III.

I grew up in Durham North Carolina. Because my Dad went to Duke University I went there often and was lucky enough to go to many basketball games a Cameron Indoor stadium and see Coach K in action.

I have a natural talent in drawing and painting, since I was young, as well as sports. So this led me to East Carolina University; where I was selected to play Softball (shortstop) and be their art program. However I enjoyed my freedom and fell in love with Anthropology!!! We often take for granted what comes naturally. With that said; these were some of my best experiences. I waned to do everything! So I tried. I got my scuba diving license, so I could be an underwater (or maritime) archaeologist. In our university it was in the history department, so it was a minor. I became an ocean lifeguard, aerobics instructor, and referee for intramural sports. Of which I gained a true respect for soccer! I also played for a travel intramural team. It was awesome. Softball

Archeological field school was amazing, as was are the diggs I’ve done after.

I loved biological anthropology just as much. I have a background in genetics as well so little did I know this would come together. I enjoyed being in the lab and having to place the bone with each hominid. Having to learn each primate, hominid, and our species of hominid skeleton and then have to know each from one piece wasn’t easy. I still remember what I learned from those classes years later.

I left school a year early a went back home. If you remember, I mentioned I’m good at drawing. I used this to compensate. I’m very dyslexic and was never diagnosed. I was in battle of the books, very involved in class discussions about books reports and never read the books. I did it by reading the first pages and the end, listening in class and then making up how I would have written it. I would also draw something with my report representing what the story meant to me. And I was normal correct. And got good grades. I’m a pain to watch movies with; I’ve gotten really good at figuring them out. (I found out later my dad had tried to make my daughter right hand. And he made the comment. Like he did me. And I hold my pencil oddly in my right hand but correctly in my left. So I started writing with my left hand and I started to read better. At this time I read like a banshee! I was always able to learn like everything was move in my head, then go back to the image later; now was able to apply this to reading as well .

I did go back to East Carolina University when my children were small with a long commute. But I was determined. Graduated, with honors: BA Anthropology BS Applied Sociology MA Sociology, concentration in Medical Sociology

I’ve worked at Duke University in the Human Genome laboratory Paradigm Genetics

An artist and photographer

An Adjunct Professor at East Carolina University and Campbell University

Sources

• First-hand information. Entered by Maria McDonald at registration.