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College of Arts and Science, Miami University

The Department of Anthropology

Alumni Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2018

Anthropology major Faith Walker won a First Place award in the Global Initiatives Photo Contest. The photo comes from Faith’s summer 2018 archaeological fieldwork, where she helped excavate a Bronze Age tomb and medieval glassblowing furnace with the Irish Field School of Prehistoric Archaeology.

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Anthropology at Miami emphasizes holistic approach to learning through experiences in a wide variety of courses, independent studies, and field research.

The core courses lay a foundation in biological anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology and linguistic anthropology.From there, you build knowledge and understanding in areas of your own interests.

Students in anthropology are encouraged to study abroad and to participate in both Miami-based and international learning experiences.

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From the Chair

Dear Alumni:

In the mountains of papers and projects, and in the packed schedules of classes, studying, events, meetings, and finals, it is easy to lose track of the whole picture in the effort to check off the next thing on the list.

But when I see students present their research projects, I can see simultaneously the list and the whole picture. As students present their results, I can see the details they attended to, the skills that went into gathering the data, the hours spent pouring over findings, the scholarly articles they reread to make sense of it all, and the care that went into communicating their projects in compelling ways. Through these projects, students grow from newly minted majors into highly educated and trained researchers of the human condition.

From their first weeks on campus to their final semesters, our anthropology majors are involved in research. For example, new majors during their first semester on campus in ATH 235 did IRB approved research consisting of observations and interviews on campus which they collaboratively presented to an intrigued Associate Director of Resident Life at the end of the semester. This is not particularly unusual – students in at least three other anthropology courses this semester were actively engaging in ethnographic research. At a more advanced level, in 2018 six anthropology majors successfully competed for Undergraduate Summer Scholars research awards and an additional student received the Dean’s Scholar’s award, conducting their projects over the summer in places close to home like Cincinnati and Texas, and in far afield in places like Lithuania and Israel.

This fall Miami University Anthropology alumni Rob Tolley, Michelle Fakler, and Colin Brand each visited campus and spoke with students. Each mentioned to me how impressed they were with student projects, and each encouraged students to reach higher than they had previously thought possible. Our alumni make a difference in how our current students envision their work and think about their possible futures.

We welcome you too to consider a visit to Miami, engaging with our current anthropology students and their research, and inspiring them to see the whole picture of their Miami education.

Cameron Hay-Rollins
Professor and Chair
anthropology@MiamiOH.edu

Nicole Schapker, Miami '18 (far right) and colleagues in the field at Palenque National Park, Chiapas, Mexico

Colin Brand , Miami '14, field work studying wild bonobos in 2017 at the field site of Lomako, Democratic Republic of Congo

Looking Ahead, Looking Back: Miami Anthropology’s Rich Primatology Heritage

Since 1989, Dr. Linda Marchant has mentored undergraduates in primatology, many of whom have gone on to illustrious careers in Biological Anthropology, primatology, and related fields. Ten of her former students have earned PhDs and six others are currently in PhD programs. While Dr. Marchant will retire from teaching in spring 2019, her legacy thrives through her many dedicated students.

Two recent Miami Anthropology graduates exemplify Dr. Marchant’s impact. Nicole Schapker (2018) currently works as a research assistant for a behavioral ecology project studying black howlers (Alouatta pigra) at Palenque National Park in Chiapas, Mexico. Her work there is supervised by Dr. Sarie Van Belle (University of Texas- Austin), and next year she hopes to begin her Ph.D. studies.

Reflecting on her current work, Nicole shares the following about her fieldwork, the hallmark of anthropological training at Miami:

"We were with the monkeys from dawn to dusk, collecting data about their feeding habits and how they navigate in their territory. The aim is to understand the strategies behind finding food when high-quality resources are constantly popping in and out of existence in their home range. It was such a privilege to become acquainted with their lives, and of course, the babies were very cute."

Students like Nicole often return to Miami to share their continued growth as a scholar with current students in Biological Anthropology. Colin Brand (2014) did just this in September 2018, presenting his latest research to Miami Anthropology’s Primatology Club, and giving a guest lecture to Dr. Marchant’s “Primate Biology and Behavior” course. Colin completed his Masters in Science in 2015 from the University of Oregon, and he is now a doctoral student there. His fieldwork in the Democratic Republic of Congo was supported by a Young Explorers Grant from the National Geographic Society.

As a cornerstone of Miami Anthropology’s undergraduate education, Nicole, Colin, and countless other students bear witness to the significance of primatology for the future of science and the irreplaceable influence of a tireless mentor.

Blake Burrell working a community event as part of his collaborative ethnographic work with a Cincinnati eco-village

Student Research Awards

In 2018, five anthropology majors conducted research funded by Undergraduate Summer Scholars (USS) awards and one is supported by a CAS Dean’s Scholar award:

Dante Rossi (USS)
Aristea King (USS)
Salem Arvin (USS)
Samantha Foppe (USS)
Elizabeth Toney (USS)
Blake Burrell (CAS Dean's Scholarship)

Dante Rossi's summer 2018 USS-funded research in multiple cities in Lithuania and Latvia was featured in a Havighurst Center profile

Aristea King

Samantha Foppe

Campus Speakers

Dr. Jason De Leon

Organized by the Dept. of Anthropology for National Archaeology Day, Dr. Jason De Leon (University of Michigan), who spoke about his book, Land of Open Graves: Understanding American Politics and U.S./Mexico Border Enforcement through the Lives and Deaths of Migrants (U California Press, 2015).

Dr. Mindy Morgan

Organized by the Dept. of Anthropology, Dr. Mindy Morgan (Michigan State University) spoke about her anthropology research with Native North American communities.

Dr. Jeb Card's faculty research involving undergraduate assistant Emily Ratvasky

University profile of Dr. Jeb Card’s research for recent book, Spooky Archaeology (University of New Mexico Press, 2018), and the significant contributions of Emily Ratvasky, Anthropology major, as an undergraduate research assistant.

Faculty Teaching Abroad in Brussels and Leiden

Led by Anthropology faculty Dr. Mark Peterson, this short film shows students from ATH 235L "Encountering the Other" on a study tour to Brussels and Leiden. Students kept fieldwork journals of their discoveries about colonial and postcolonial representations of the Other (and ate amazing food, explored both modern and centuries-old buildings, and generally had fun together!).

Department of Anthropology

College of Arts and Science at Miami University
120 Upham Hall • Oxford, OH 45056
Phone: 513-529-8399 • Email: anthropology@MiamiOH.edu

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