Category: Anthropology

Nusaiba Chowdhury: Barriers to Refugees Achieving Self-Sufficiency

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https://youtu.be/HS87wDv5q4o

Refugees resettled in the United States are expected to attain self-sufficiency (employment) as soon as possible, however they face numerous barriers to this goal. This research is the result of interviews with refugee serving staff and their perceptions of barriers to refugees achieving self-sufficiency.

Nusaiba Chowdhury
Program: PhD in Anthropology
Faculty mentor: Neely Myers

Bonnie Etter: Ceci n’est pas une pipe

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Winner: Anthropology (Graduate)

Co-author: Molly Murphy Adams

https://youtu.be/a6hR_lXCA9s

I present an in depth artifact analysis of a pipe bowl, found in the Southern Methodist University Archaeological Research Collections

Bonnie Etter
Program: Anthropology
Faculty Mentor: Sunday Eiselt

Bhesta Shahim (U): COVID-19 Tracking in Indigenous Communities

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https://youtu.be/TPcLW-BOeqk

Indigenous Peoples experience alarming rates of inequities and systemic discrimination and also experience disproportionate rates of malnutrition and lack of access to quality healthcare, housing, and clean water. These realities make Indigenous Peoples especially vulnerable to COVID-19 and its effects; however, as COVID-19 continues to spread, Indigenous Peoples are largely being left out of the conversation. Due to the need for data and information disaggregated by Indigenous Peoples, Cultural Survival (CS) is producing a map, using Google Maps technology, to show the situations Indigenous communities are facing as a result of COVID-19, including documenting COVID-19 cases and related human rights violations. Through my research work with Dr. Smith-Morris and Cultural Survival, I have contributed to collecting this important data as well as supervising other students on this work.

Bhesta Shahim
Majors: Human Rights, Health & Society
Faculty Mentor: Carolyn Smith-Morris

Megan Sham (U): Immigrant Identity Through Food Culture

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Winner: Dedman II (Undergraduate)

https://youtu.be/-NygcjjXiK0

The main goal of this research study is to look at integration of Chinese-American immigrant families through the specific lens of their domestic culinary practices (cooking at home) as a lens of understand the food practices of immigrants in the United States. The participants in this study will include SMU students and their families, as well as other members of the Chinese-American immigrant community in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area and Houston.The study aims to understand how immigrant communities in the United States adapt to and resist mainstream American culture, starting with food and cooking in the home. Interviews will be conducted to gather qualitative information concerning attitudes towards cooking certain cuisines and the effects on the family unit. The research will be funded partially by the John G. Tower Center's Henry S. Miller Undergraduate Research Fellowship, as well as the Fry Undergraduate Research Award from the SMU Anthropology Department.

Megan Sham
Majors: Anthropology
Faculty Mentor: Nicolas Sternsdorff Cisterna