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Welcome from the Chair...
Welcome to the Department of Anthropology at Appalachian State University. As Yogi Berra, the colorful catcher for the New York Yankees in the 1950s once said, "This seems like deja vu all over again!" I was the initial chairperson of the Department of Anthropology back in 1979-1983. There are lots of familiar faculty faces from that period still here -- Harvard Ayers, Pat Beaver, Jeff Boyer, Cheryl Claassen and Sue Keefe. Yet, there are also faces that were not around then - Larry Kimball, Diane Mines, Tom Whyte, Eric Bowne, Sharon Rorbakken and our newest tenure-track addition, Gwen Robbins. Gwen is a biological anthropologist. We warmly welcome her here.
Our department is larger now that it was then. We have more faculty and students and our curriculum is both deeper and broader. Overall, the faculty are not as young as then. Back then, Cratis Williams, Mr. Appalachia, former Dean of the Graduate School and Acting Chancellor, affectionately referred to the anthropology faculty as "the Young Turks" in the best sense of that expression, meaning that we are rebellious and passionate thinkers and actors in the university, the community and the world.
Anthropology has undergone many changes since 1983. Applied anthropology has greater legitimacy. There are more calls from the discipline to increase engagement with the public through pre-collegiate education, policy research and formation, more popular forms of representation, and involvement in contentious issues of racism, ethnic and gender bias, violence, economic and social justice and environmental degradation. We struggle to maintain the holism which has characterized American anthropology. Yet, the heart of anthropology remains the same: the critically humanistic and scientific search for the meaning of our humanity and the solutions to philosophical and practical problems which continue to plague us down to this day. Indeed, this is an exciting time to be an anthropologist.
We offer a strong program in Anthropology to over 100 undergraduate majors. There are many opportunities for hands-on training, including field schools, internships, laboratory classes, field trips, and international programs. Our programs provide a well-rounded preparation for graduate school or a variety of careers following graduation.
The Department of Anthropology has a long tradition of offering summer field schools and study abroad programs. This year we offered four summer programs. Our field schools and study abroad programs are valuable opportunities for students interested in applying anthropology outside the classroom. They provide students with new perspectives on theory and practice, and they are essential for those interested in pursuing graduate work. If you haven't already enrolled, consider taking one of these programs before graduation.
Dr. Gregory Reck, chairperson
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