#AnnaHarrison
Fostering Professional Growth:
My Experience at the AAA Annual Meeting as an Undergraduate
by Anna Harrison (Appalachian State University)
As a second-year undergraduate student at Appalachian State University, I had the privilege to attend the 2024 American Anthropological Association Conference held in Tampa, Florida. I urge those wishing to advance their career in anthropology to take advantage of attending the AAA Conference. I gathered that there was an extremely low undergraduate presence at the conference. This is surprising considering undergraduates can receive free membership if their university is an affiliated DSP Partner Institution. Once a member, students receive free admission to the conference through the Undergraduate Cohort Program. The AAA Conference is an exceptional opportunity for those trying to enter the field of anthropology. There were daily expos geared toward undergraduates or those applying to graduate programs, where students could learn more about graduate schools and other options outside of academia. It is evident the AAA is making strides to encourage more undergraduate students to attend.
Along with the expos, one could browse a magnificent selection of books at the book fair. There were numerous books for purchase, many at discounted rates. While browsing, I was able to engage in intriguing conversations with authors and vendors specialized in various anthropological areas of study.
If attending a long form lecture is not your style, there are a plethora of other great options to choose from at the conference. The type of sessions included panels, roundtables, flash presentations, and poster presentations. Some of my favorite presenters portrayed their experimental ethnographies via original poems or interactive activities. I gained exposure to various research topics and methodologies. These sessions introduced me to fields of study outside of my professors’ expertise at Appalachian State. There were panels from all four subfields; I found this to be an excellent showcase of how diverse anthropology is as a field.
I was able to speak with other conference attendees about my interests in environmental anthropology, including the start of my senior honors thesis. Multiple professors, from various graduate schools, expressed interest in my individual research and offered guidance on writing my thesis. The connections I made at the conference are ones I feel will make me a stronger candidate for graduate school, as well as an overall stronger anthropologist. I received invaluable feedback and thought-provoking pushback on my findings, that I have yet to defend in such a capacity.
The highlight of the conference was preparing a roundtable and presenting research alongside fellow Appalachian State undergraduate, Ella Adams, and Yu-An Kuo, a Ph.D. candidate at Duke University. We discussed our respective student research during our roundtable titled: More-Than-Human: Incorporating Multispecies Ethnography for the Future of Anthropology.
I presented research on a group ethnography at Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia that examines the more-than-human sociality of the Grayson Highlands feral ponies. My group utilizes a multispecies framework and multimodal methodology to bring forth the politics of care and conservation within protected landscapes.
Presenting provided an amazing opportunity to practice public speaking in front of a group of professional anthropologists. We received stimulating feedback and challenging questions that helped to shape our projects. The defense of one’s research is a crucial part of anthropology. Having exposure to the process before your thesis defense provides a head start for students.
Attending this year’s AAA Conference was not an easy decision in light of Florida’s anti-LGBTQ legislation. I was unsure whether I could best show solidarity with Florida’s queer community via boycotting the conference or showing up; in the end, I felt called to attend. While boycotts are an effective political tool, the community of anthropologists in Florida seek support. I raise the question: what will our continued absence accomplish?
As someone living in North Carolina, which has similar discriminatory policies, I chose to attend as, to me, this encourages reform and increases the visibility of important issues in our society and academic discipline. With many not being able to afford to leave the state, or having cultural or social ties, I find it important to not abandon those areas but advocate for reform. I want my actions to help people feel supported and seen. Listening to panels and engaging in research for and by queer communities and queer anthropologists helped me to learn more about the inspiring work being done to advocate for change.
Now that I am back at school, it has become my mission to make the AAA Conference more well known among undergraduates. I gained such valuable experiences and knowledge of what lies beyond my undergraduate studies, such as graduate programs and research opportunities. One of the greatest benefits of attending the AAA Conference as an undergraduate was networking with professionals who will one day become peers. I look forward to reconnecting with those I met at the 2024 conference, and I hope to see more fellow undergraduate students at the 2025 meeting in New Orleans.