The 2013 AAA Summer Interns and Association for Feminist Anthropology (AFA) Summer Intern has been selected. Congratulations to Jeff Emerson, Jalene Regassa and Rachel Nuzman!
Rachel Nuzman will be the 2013 AFA Summer Intern. Nuzman is a senior at Saint Mary’s College of California. She is double majoring in Anthropology and English, and minoring in Women and Gender Studies. Rachel notes that through her studies, she has “developed an incredible passion for analyzing cultural influence and pressure on gender and language.”
The AFA is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Nuzman will research an annotated history of the AFA, utilizing the AFA Archives housed at the Smithsonian and other sources, to mark this important anniversary. The finished product will be a useful guidebook for research and scholarship related to AFA’s mission: pedagogy and scholarship in feminist anthropology.
Please help support Rachel’s internship by making a financial contribution to the AFA-AAA Summer Internship Program.
Jeff Emerson, an AAA Summer Intern, will be working with the Underwater Archaeology Branch of the Naval History & Heritage Command, the official history program of the Department of the Navy.
A native of Iowa, Emerson is a senior at Luther College. He double majors in Anthropology and Chemistry.
Several opportunities have led Emerson to an interest in the fields of archaeometry, oceanographic archaeology and artifact conservation. Work with the National Park Service at the Klondike Gold Ruck National Historical Park in Skagway, Alaska, and an internship in summer 2012 with the Nautilus Exploration Program searching for ancient shipwrecks in the Black Sea have contributed most to these curiosities. While on the Nautilus expedition, Jeff assisted the lead scientist with geochemical research of the Black Sea’s stratified water column and the underlying sediments. This investigation turned into the core research for his senior capstone project in chemistry to better understand the chemical processes within the water column and sediments, and how they influence the deterioration or preservation of archaeological artifacts left in situ.
Jalene Regassa, an AAA Summer Intern, will be working with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art. Regassa is a senior at Colby College. She double majors in Anthropology and Global Studies. “As an Ethiopia-American, I am very much interested in exploring the ways in which African cultures interact with American cultures and people” says Regassa.
Jalene has a passion for learning, which has compelled her to become an active member of the Colby African Society. Over the past three years, She has played a significant role in revitalizing the club’s activities of representing Africa at Colby College. Her Anthropology major has been valuable in learning about the various cultures that exist in Africa and in appreciating the plurality of experiences across the continent, which she believes allows for a balanced and holistic understanding of Africa and its people.
In a recent interview, Regassa relays her excitement for the upcoming internship: “I am excited to begin my AAA internship at the Smithsonian National Museum for African Art this coming summer. I believe it is a great opportunity to further develop my knowledge while combining my growing interests in anthropology, African cultures, and art.”
The AAA Summer Internship is in its third consecutive year. The program is proudly funded entirely through member donations. This summer AAA needs to raise $8,000 to host Emerson and Regassa. The internships are unpaid; however, the students are provided housing and a meal/travel stipend. Please support these students by making your financial contribution to the AAA Summer Internship Program today.
Filed under: AAA Sections, Anthro in the Media, Association Business, Career/Funding/Awards | Tagged: 2013 AAA Summer Internship Program, AFA Summer Intern, anthropology internship, anthropology students, Association for Feminist Anthropology, Colby College, Jalene Regassa, Jeff Emerson, Luther College, Rachel Nuzman, Saint Mary's College of California | Comments Off
Parental Needs on Academic Campuses
Today’s post is a Memorandum from the Association for Feminist Anthropology’s Executive Board of Elected and Appointed Members.
As feminist anthropologists, we contend that: 1) breastfeeding should not be stigmatized or hidden from view, and indeed should be considered a basic human right; 2) breastfeeding is not inherently unprofessional or distracting, and increased recognition of how the demands of infant care, and of breastfeeding in particular, shape the challenges parents face in the workplace is crucial for improving conditions for all families; 3) childcare needs on campuses tend to marginalize and create obstacles to parents of all genders seeking educational and career mobility as students, faculty, and staff; 4) campus needs for childcare, including services to care for sick children, deserve more consideration by institutions, unions, and policymakers.
We urge others to join us in using this incident as a ‘teachable moment’ that fosters critical analysis and education by feminist anthropologists and others, and promotes political mobilization.
- The AFA Board (Jane Henrici, Ellen Lewin, Lynn Kwiatkowski, Sandra Faiman-Silva, Nia Parson, Margot Weiss, Holly Dygert, Susan B. Hyatt, Sophie Bjork-James, Susan Harper-Bisso, Jennifer Patico, Jamie Sherman. Amy Harper, Jessica Smith Rolston, Damla Isik, and Rebecca Boucher)
Filed under: AAA Sections, Advocacy, Commentary | Tagged: Association for Feminist Anthropology, breastfeeding in the classroom, censure of breastfeeding, childcare for working parents, feminist anthropologists, parental needs on academic campuses | 1 Comment »