Recently, Governor Rick Scott of Florida was quoted in the Herald Tribune as saying that he wanted to devote state funding resources to encourage students to graduate with degrees in science, technology, engineering and medical degrees, noting “the state doesn’t need any more anthropologists.”
We ask that you join this petition to have Gov. Scott meet with representatives from the humanities community so that he can be educated as to our collective contribution to the scientific advancement, economy, and well-being of his state. We will be collecting signatures for the next two weeks, and plan to submit our request on Monday, October 31.
Thank you for joining this petition, and helping us underscore the value of humanities-related research and study not only in Florida, but nationwide.
To “sign” the petition,below, add your name to the reply box below along with any constructive comments you have for the Governor.
October 31, 2011
Rick Scott
Governor
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001
Dear Governor Scott:
We, the undersigned members of the humanities and social science community, request that you meet with our Florida-based representatives, members and students to discuss our contributions to the scientific advancement, economy, and well-being of Florida. The President and the Executive Director of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) wrote to you on October 11, 2011 and asked for a meeting. We ask that you give our representatives an opportunity to respond to your statement that the state of Florida “does not need more anthropology majors.” While your statement engages anthropologists directly, it also has immediate implications for the entire network of professionals (both established and in-training) in the humanities and social sciences.
We are scholars, scientists, educators, researchers, students, museum curators, government employees and professionals who make many valued contributions in Florida and nationwide. Anthropologists are dedicated to studying humankind in all its aspects, including through archaeological, biological, cultural, medical and linguistic research. Together with our colleagues from social sciences (including sociology, political science, criminology, international relations, among many others) and the humanities (such as modern languages, history, religion, art, among many others), our impact on the state is strong.
For example, as the Florida Public Archaeology Network documents, sustainable heritage tourism and historic preservation in Florida contributes over $4 billion per year to Florida’s economy. We look forward to your meeting with our representatives, and will follow up on this request in a few short days. Please feel free to contact Damon Dozier, Director of Public Affairs at the AAA if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
Best,
David B. Halmo, PhD Anthropologist
Anthropology is a critical discipline in today’s world. It is critical in at least two ways: it creates and disseminates tools to analyze the human condition, but it also creates and disseminates tools to identify and solve human problems.
Christine Bennett University of South Florida
Laura R. Graham
University of Iowa
Rick Rossi, University of Rhode Island
Marcel Zikofsky
Rick Rossi, University of Rhode Island.
Erin McGinley
Dr. Laura Popova
I am a student of Anthropology, and I am currently studying in Alabama. I had plans to transfer to Florida, but I am reconsidering my decision.
Anthropology is the holistic study of human kind. It’s scope shows us where we came from and hopefully where we’re going. Please take a look at all of the important work that anthropologist do before directing funds elsewhere.
- Robert A. Giles
Student of Anthropology
[excerpt from a letter written to Governor Scott for class] As an Anthropology student I am writing this to inform you of the importance of our field. The world is run on the social sciences and you can find us in anything from Political science, forensic science, economists, archaeology, linguistics, and much more. Unlike politicians we are here to help promote understanding, not just to make money.
Anthropology is one of the most holistic disciplines in the world. Without us your foreign policies wouldn’t exist. As said by you “The big losers: Programs like psychology and anthropology…” the ones that are not “vital interests to the state” are the ones that make the balance and understanding of people today possible. Anthropologists work as mediators between different cultures, without them the international relationships and understanding we have would be little to nothing. High business men have to be trained by anthropologists on how to behave when they go to meetings in other countries. Without that training the business men you send in hope to acquire some sort of out of the nation support could insult them and ruin your entire company by accident. The ways that people across the world live doesn’t just come naturally to a visitor. It is very ethnocentrically biased of you to think that looking into diplomatic workings in other countries, and working to understand them so that we can all better communicate, is not important.
Dr. Erica L. Williams
Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Spelman College
Elizabeth McManus, PhD
Research Professor, University of Virginia
Tom Hehir
Gwendolyn Robbins Schug, PhD
Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Appalachian State University
Acquanda Y. Stanford
Victoria A. Ingalls
M.A. Candidate
Department of Anthropology
University of Central Florida
Russell Edwards
Graduate Student of Anthropology
University of Central Florida
Jason Wenzel, M.A.
Anthropology Ph.D. student
University of Florida
Adjunct Professor
Valencia College
Brevard Community College
Field/Lab Director & Chapter Representative
Central Florida Anthropological Society
Kathryn Bonnet,
Texas State University, BS Anthropology
Madison Huber-Smith, MA
Adjunct Professor of Anthropology
Johnson County Community College
I teach students every day how to understand and work with different groups of people. These students may be engineers, doctors, scientists, or many other professions, and because of anthropology, they’ll be able to successfully work with people who are different from themselves.
I urge you to reconsider your statement. Given our increasingly complex and interconnect world and the vast array of seemingly insurmountable problems we face,all approaches to making sense of the world should be embraced and encouraged.
David Bayendor
Graduate Student, Dept of Anthropology
University of Colorado Denver
Chanda Briggs
I am graduating senior from UCLA’s anthropology department and someone who grew up and still has family and friends in Florida. The importance of social sciences to the business and population of Florida is something I don’t believe should be taken lightly. In a state that has seen incredible shifts in demographics for decades, is home to international and seasonal inhabitants, attracts domestic and international businesses and is in close proximity to island nations, what could be more informative to policy than sound, thorough research? This is not to mention the historical wealth of Florida’s coasts and keys. It would be a shame if valuable data and arfifacts were overlooked due to a shortage of social science investment in such a beautiful state rich in its culture, history, people and potential.
Charlotte Noble, MA/MPH
Doctoral Student, Department of Anthropology
University of South Florida
Marc Settembrino, University of Central Florida, Sociologist
Ronald Kephart, PhD
Associate Professor of Anthropology
University of North Florida
Indeed!
Angela VandenBroek
M.A. Anthropology
Gov. Rick Scott — I am an anthropologist and I use my anthropology to create intuitive and culturally meaningful websites in my position as webmaster of a community college and as a freelance designer. My anthropology is the T in STEM.
Rachael Tackett
Undergraduate Student in Anthropology
University of South Florida
Anthropology needs to connect with STEM fields. We need to make Anthropology relevant to undergraduate students and give them job skills. Anthropology students need applied courses in STEM fields and people in STEM fields need some people stills i.e. applied Anthropology.
Gomathi Ganesan
Joshua Mullenite
Undergraduate Anthropology Major at Florida International University
Daniel Lende, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Anthropology
University of South Florida
Melissa Cefkin, PhD
Research Scientist
IBM Research – Almaden
Gabrielle Purcell
Graduate Student
University of Tennessee
B.A. from University of West Florida
Brian Mabelitini
Carylanna Taylor, MS
Doctoral Candidate in Applied Anthropology
University of South Florida
John Colgrove, Student
CSU, San Bernardino
Gabriela Maldonado.
The fact that Governor Scott has made such comments attacking Anthropology as an area of study that does not need to be focused on or funded anymore just goes to show how ill-informed some people are when it comes to this specific discipline. It is up to us as students, teachers, and workers to educate Governor Scott and the rest of Americans about what Anthropology is and how it can be used or applied in the real world.
Kristel Crame
University of South Florida
Anthropology Undergraduate
http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2011/oct/12/1/gov-scotts-daughter-has-anthropology-degree-ar-271476/
Daniel Laracuente
Anthropology major at USF St.Petersburg campus.
Was an anthropology major at FSU until I was told I needed choose another major,that is why I came to USF
Governor Scott, I ask that you strongly reconsider the issue at hand.
Kathleen Gillogly
Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Joe Feldman
Ph.D. Student
Department of Anthropology
University of Florida
Amy Eve
History Graduate Student, University of West Florida
The liberal arts are the foundation upon which this country was built. How can we avoid making the same mistakes over and over again without learning about the mistakes of the past and the cultures and societies in which we exist.
Nelma Spradling-Bell
Erica M Ruyle
Wayne State University
PhD Candidate & Senior Methodologist, New Method and Social Research – Market Strategies International; Portland, OR
Edward J Rohn
Wayne State University
PhD Candidate
Independent Contractor & Medical Anthropologist
Rebecca Sparks
Graduate Student, Anthropology
California State University; Sacramento
Kurtis Neu
Anthropology Student, Undergraduate
St. Cloud State University, Minnesota
Lauren Cheek, MA
current Ph.D student at University of Florida
Lee Bloch
AmeriCorps*VISTA
Office of Civic and Community Engagement
University of Miami
After graduating with a B.A. in anthropology and gender studies, I now work to identify and promote civic and community engagement. My office develops partnerships with local organizations to address community needs, applying academic pursuits to the enrichment of community and civic life in South Florida. Some of our most active faculty making significant contributions in Miami are in the humanities and social sciences. In part because my own education prepared me to better understand and articulate the nature of society as well as to to work with diverse peoples, it is clear to me that the humanities and social sciences have an invaluable impact on civic life and society in Florida.
USF undergraduate
Dr. Alexander D. King, Senior Lecturer of Anthropology at University of Aberdeen (Ph.D., Virginia)
Alisse Waterston
Professor, Department of Anthropology
John Jay College, CUNY
Jason Baird Jackson
Associate Professor of Folklore and American Studies
Adjunct Associate Professor of Anthropology
Fourth Generation Floridian and University of Florida Graduate
Son of Two Elderly, Angry Florida Voters
Masood Khan
Majoring in Anthropology
Pakistan
S. J. Forney
Adjunct, Anthropology
And Archaeology
SCF
Jodi Skipper
Anthropology
Oxford, MS
Jane Henrici, PhD
Study Director
Institute for Women’s Policy Research
Washington, DC
Vicki Ina F. Gloer
Graduate Student
SUNY-Albany
Hugh Gusterson
Professor, Anthropology
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
Elizabeth Wirtz
PhD Student
Department of Anthropology
Purdue University
Anthropology is a critical discipline in today’s world. It is critical in at least two ways: it creates and disseminates tools to analyze the human condition, but it also creates and disseminates tools to identify and solve human problems.
Julien Cossette
Anthropology, other social sciences and humanities are the foundation of our research institute which, for 25 years has been dedicated to using anthropological knowledge, supported with NIH and other federal and foundation dollars to work with local communities to understand and address critical issues in health, culture and well being. Anthropology’s orientation and research methods create capacity to understand how diverse peoples make sense of the world. This leads to the development of good prevention strategies, responsive and productive businesses, cultural tourism and workable responses to environmental and other crises. Florida’s anthropology programs train the students who endorse these goals that contribute to quality of life in the state and far beyond. They should be supported and endorsed, not reduced and eliminated.
Nan Rothschild,
Dept of Anthropology,
Columbia University
New York, NY
Christine Pyles
Undergraduate Anthropology student
Cleveland State University
Alex A. G. Taub
Wenatchee Valley College
Washington State
CJ Brown
Adjunct in Anthropology
Hamilton Holt
Rollins College
Winter Park, FL
Sarah Roellinger MA Anthropology
Amy Goldmacher, Ph.D.
Anthropologically-trained market researcher
Alicia Guillama: MA Museum Studies, BA Anthropology
Shed your ignorance Governor
Sandy Whitehurst
Karen Esche-Eiff
Ph.D. Student
Anthropology
UW-Milwaukee
Travis M. Williams
Doctoral Student in Anthropology
University of Michigan
Eric Burant
Recent Graduate
Archaeology/Anthropology
UW-Milwaukee
Michael Thomas, Anthropology Major and President of the Saint Mary’s Anthropology Society 2011/2012.
Please add my name to your petition.
Mary L Fryman
BA Anthropology University of TN Knoxville
MA Anthropology University of Memphis
Clinical Research Associate
Precisely the reason we need a Public Anthropology.
Susan D. Gillespie
Dept of Anthropology
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-7305
BA Anhtropolugy Penn State Univ 2010
… and I have a job after graduating with a degree in Anthropology … imagine that!
BA Anthropology Penn State Univ 2010
… and I have a job after graduating with a degree in Anthropology … imagine that!
Jessica Hahl
BA Anthropology
Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO
Anthropology is essential for multicultural education in the age of globalization.
Mark Frezzo, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
University of Mississippi
Karen E. Danner
Adjunct Anthropology Instructor
Pierce College
Lakewood, WA
Matthew Morrow
University of Florida Student
Gainesville Florida
Dusty Riley
American Military University Student
Virginia Beach, VA.
Elise Adams, M.A.
PhD Candidate
Department of Anthropology
Australian National University
(Graduate of University of Central Florida, BA Anthropology, and long time Florida resident)
I too have employment in my field.
Hello, this is Gregory Brass. I have been involved in a variety of health and mental health related research projects. My current research project is on the social impacts of cancers among the Cree of James Bay in northern Quebec, Canada. Once complete I expect my research will be useful to other Indigenous populations and public health experts when addressing the recent rise of cancers in Native North American communities. Similarly, I am also involved in an international study investigating the factors that support individual and community resilience in Indigenous communities. My anthropological training in ethnographic research and qualitative methods has been critical to my ability to both collect useful data and effectively analyze it. I have worked with other academic researchers, health professionals, and others including family physicians, oncologists, psychiatrists, environmental scientists, public health experts, Indigenous healers, religious and civic leaders, and scores of community members.
Gregory M. Brass
Department of Anthropology, McGill University
855 Sherbrooke St. Ouest, Montreal QC H3A 2T7
Network for Aboriginal Mental Health Research (NAMHR)
Culture & Mental Health Research Unit
4333 Cote Ste Catherine Rd, Montreal H3T 1E4
http://www.namhr.ca
Is it safe to assume that next year’s AAA meeting will be somewhere in South Florida?
Medical Anthropologist
Yale University School of Medicine
New Haven, Connecticut
Emily Niespodziewanski, BA
Graduate Student in Physical Anthropology
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Ryan W. Schmidt, PhD Candidate
University of Montana, Missoula
Department of Anthropology
Sheila K Kessler, Northwestern University (’04)
Ben Hutcherson, MA
Adjunct Instructor
University of MIssissippi
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Kimberly A. Couvson-Liebe, Ph.D.
Senior Researcher/Sociocultural Anthropologist
Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, Germany
Melody Slashinski, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Texas School of Public Health
Being that the research methods used in anthropology are useful in marketing it would be wise for the governor to reconsider his position. I use the skills I have obtained with my degree daily in my private sector work.
Regards,
Robert Pfeiffenberger
Miami, FL
Florida International University
BA sociology/Anthropology
Mary L. Russell
A Muhammad Ma`ruf, Ph.D. Swedesboro, NJ
Anthropology is important and should be supported.
Ashley Sewell
Anthropology undergraduate
University of Florida
As others have said, in an increasingly global world anthropologists are more important now then perhaps ever before. I urge the governer to reconsider his statement, and at least have the courtesy to meet with those who participate in representing our multi faceted and flexible field.
Celia Grace Murnock, NJ
Kathleen Terry-Sharp
Memphis, TN
Please continue to cherish Florida’s historical legacy and the people who help you to preserve and interpret your state’s fascinating culture history.
Sandra Weinstein Bever, PhD., applied anthropologist and researcher
Medical Advisory Board
The Bonnie J Addario Lung Cancer Foundation
Dr. Marcy Brink-Danan, Anthropology, Brown University
Anna Jefferson
PhD candidate, anthropology, Michigan State University
Analyst, Abt Associates, Cambridge, MA
Matthew Hayes
M.A. Candidate, Anthropology, Simon Fraser University
Vancouver, Canada
Christopher A. Furlow
President, General Anthropology Division of the American Anthropological Association
Santa Fe College
Gainesville, FL
Governor Scott needs to hear directly from anthropologists. How can our State’s businesses and industries succeed in the Global markeplace without an understanding of world cultures.
Dennis Wiedman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies
Florida International University
Past President of the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology
Past AAA Executive Board Member, Practicing/Professional Seat
If we stop and think of a single question to ponder about humanity, we realize all disciplinary roads–philosophy, history, even the hardest of the sciences–lead to the perspectives held in anthropology to answer that question. We and everything we know and do are our own creations, our own organization of experience. How can we come to understand this without anthropology?
Ava Iuliano, MLIS
International Relations Librarian
Florida International University
Gov. Scott would benefit greatly from having an anthropologist on his staff. Perhaps s/he would be able to point out that promoting education in STEM while criticizing the salaries of professors (the higher paid often being in the medical or hard sciences) is a bit inconsistent.
Elana D. Buch MSW, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Anthropology
University of Iowa
&
Social Science in Practice Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Anthropology
UCLA
Jessica Cattelino
Associate Professor of Anthropology, UCLA
Author of a Florida-based book, High Stakes: Florida Seminole Gaming and Sovereignty, and scholar bringing outside grant money to South Florida in 2011-12 for research on Everglades-related issues
Ashley Jones
Student and MUSIC major
What should happen to my education Gov. Scott?