UNM Anthropology Stands Against Racism, Violence, and Denial of Human Rights
Departmental News
Posted: Jun 18, 2020 - 12:00pm
The Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, stands against all forms of racism, violence, and denial of human rights in our nation and around the world. Our goal as anthropologists is to use our deep understanding of human biology and culture to end racism and to achieve social equality. We hereby make a commitment to add people with diverse backgrounds and intellectual perspectives to our field and to our department, to make all opportunities for students and scholars equitable, and to foster community activities that oppose racism and other forms of inequality.
Transformative Education as the Key to Dismantling Racism Our country is currently experiencing a monsoon of fear, raining down in torrents day in and day out. Sometimes it looks like a pandemic killing hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Other times it looks like police aggressively restraining one man until he passes out. It comes in the form of friends and families turning against each other on social media, arguing about their right to wear a mask or not wear a mask; carry a gun or not carry a gun; visit a historic statue or tear it down. These daily clashes reflect the battle lines drawn in the war on racism, individuality, patriotism, and supremacy.
The Complicated History of Environmental Racism Many people understand the environment as a force of nature that cannot favor or disfavor different populations. However, similar to all things on Earth, the environment is subject to human influences. Unfortunately, these influences often tend to lower their hands to the worsts of our society including racism and classism. This can ultimately create environmental racism.
Black Student Excellence Springs from Historic Inequalities From the moment the first African slaves were brought to the shores of Virginia and sold to the colonists there in 1619, the battle for education for African-Americans has been hard-fought and often cruel. As the groundbreaking New York Times 1619 series points out, “In the history of the United States, Black Americans were the only group for whom it was ever illegal to learn to read or write. And so when emancipation finally came, schools and colleges were some of the first institutions that the freed people clamored to build. Black Americans believed that education meant liberation… [Today’s graduates] represent nothing less than their ancestors’ wildest dreams.”
Racism in Healthcare Adopted by the General Assembly of the World Medical Association (WMA) at Geneva in 1948, the Declaration of Geneva is one example of the oath taken by medical students upon entering their new profession. In the aftermath of World War II, international communities learned of the horrific human experiments conducted by doctors within the Nazi regime and the Japanese Imperial Army’s Unit 731 (where biological and chemical weapons were routinely tested on imprisoned human beings and on populations in Chinese cities and towns).
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Where Do We Go From Here? The path to change is often difficult to navigate and that is especially the case with the civil rights movement in the 60s and the present-day Black Lives Matter movement. In fact, many have said, ‘two steps forward, one step back.’ While progress has been made over the last 57 years, there is still much work to be done and that fact has been highlighted over and over since the needless deaths of George Floyd, Breona Taylor, Tony McDade, and other BIPOC and Trans folks, and through the many subsequent protests.
The steering committee is tasked with developing an action plan to promote Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-bias (IDEA) in the Anthropology Department. The committee will meet approximately once per month, though additional meetings with other interested parties will likely be necessary.
- Conduct fact-finding about the departmental climate and evaluate current obstacles to IDEA
- Identify and prioritize recommendations, actions, and policies for IDEA at the level of undergraduate education, graduate education, faculty and staff recruitment and development
- Develop an action plan that includes timelines and criteria for evaluation
- Work with engaged faculty and students to follow through on implementation of the action plan
- Assess progress on the development and implementation of action items
- Develop a charter for a standing committee on IDEA in Anthropology to begin in Fall 2021
Scholarships for Undergraduates:
Alfonso Ortiz Undergraduate Fellowships for Indigenous Scholars
This fund was established in honor of Alfonso Ortiz, former Professor of Anthropology and recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (the “Genius Award), to support Native American and Indigenous undergraduate students majoring in Anthropology. This $500 award is given to a talented indigenous student who has declared their major in Anthropology. The award can be used to cover the costs of tuition or other student fees, field schools, field research (including travel), or presentations at professional meetings. Applicants must have at least sophomore status (30 credit hours) and must be a member of a Native American tribe.
The mission of the University of New Mexico’s Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program and the Research Opportunity Program (ROP) is to prepare high achieving undergraduate students for admission into graduate school to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees. The McNair/ROP programs offer eligible students the opportunity to conduct faculty-mentored research as well as travel opportunities and support during the graduate application process. The McNair/ROP programs serve students who are first generation to college, low income, and/or members of ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in graduate school. Members of the programs participate in numerous activities designed to prepare them for the rigors of graduate education. Scholars who complete the program have been admitted to and earned degrees from many well respected universities throughout the world, including Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Columbia, UC-Berkeley, UW-Madison, Northwestern, Cambridge, and UNM.
El Puente Research Fellowship supports and promotes undergraduate research in multiple academic areas. It offers undergraduates the opportunity to prepare for graduate level education over the course of two semesters. El Puente Fellows work closely with graduate mentors and faculty as they increase their understanding and experience of academic research. This fellowship takes the educational experience to the next level and better.
Scholarships for Native American Students
American Indian Student Services (AISS) was established during the 1980-1981 academic year to increase the recruitment and retention of Native students. Currently, American Indian Student Services provides a range of student support programming for American Indian students attending The University of New Mexico-Main Campus in an effort to ensure their academic achievement and assist in the development of personal, cultural, and social success. AISS is also a liaison for Native students attending local high schools and schools located on or near tribal reservations; tribal and community colleges; tribal governments; and tribal higher education programs and organizations that directly impact the recruitment and retention of American Indian students at The University of New Mexico-Main Campus
The University of New Mexico offers the “Beca México” to all Mexican citizens admitted to full-time, in-person undergraduate or graduate academic program. This scholarship emphasizes UNM’s commitment to international education and honors our shared cultural and historical hertiage with Mexico. The scholarship represents an approximately $11,000 discount off of the non-resident tuition rate. This scholarship is granted automatically to Mexican students who are accepted to the University and cannot be combined with other discounts or scholarships.
The Frank C. Hibben Undergraduate Research and Training Summer Fellowship
Funded through the Frank C. Hibben Charitable Trust, these scholarships provide support to undergraduate students attending a field school with UNM anthropology faculty and/or other field research. Scholarships may be given to undergraduate students attending a UNM field school for support of tution, fees, and other related costs. Variable awards granted based on nomination of student by a UNM Anthropology faculty member.
Fellowships for Postgraduates:
As an affirmation of its commitment to support racial equity and inclusion in graduate education at UNM, Graduate Studies announces a new initiative to offer five awards for eligible graduate students conducting research on topics related to what can be broadly called critical race scholarship, with priority given to studies that focus on race in the United States.
International Amigo Scholarship
The International Amigo Scholarship entitles awarded international students to a waiver of the non-resident portion of tuition. Students must meet renewal requirements each semester.
Fellowships for Native American Students at UNM
American Indian Student Services (AISS) was established during the 1980-1981 academic year to increase the recruitment and retention of Native students. Currently, American Indian Student Services provides a range of student support programming for American Indian students attending The University of New Mexico-Main Campus in an effort to ensure their academic achievement and assist in the development of personal, cultural, and social success. AISS is also a liaison for Native students attending local high schools and schools located on or near tribal reservations; tribal and community colleges; tribal governments; and tribal higher education programs and organizations that directly impact the recruitment and retention of American Indian students at The University of New Mexico-Main Campus
The University of New Mexico offers the “Beca México” to all Mexican citizens admitted to full-time, in-person undergraduate or graduate academic program. This scholarship emphasizes UNM’s commitment to international education and honors our shared cultural and historical hertiage with Mexico. The scholarship represents an approximately $11,000 discount off of the non-resident tuition rate. This scholarship is granted automatically to Mexican students who are accepted to the University and cannot be combined with other discounts or scholarships.
Academic Science Education and Research Training (ASERT) Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Academic Science Education and Research Training (ASERT) program for postdoctoral fellows provides three years of support to fellows wishing to achieve excellence as both educators and research scientists in biology, bioengineering, and biomedical sciences. ASERT capitalizes on the outstanding interdisciplinary research opportunities and internationally recognized educational resources at The University of New Mexico. Trainees enhance job competitiveness by developing an individualized learning plan that allows completion of courses or training tailored to their career goals as well as hands-on teaching experience with outstanding education mentors at partner minority-serving institutions across the state of New Mexico (CNM, NMSU, and SIPI).
The Regents’ Winrock Fellowship (RWF) promotes the recruitment of highly competitive doctoral students of exceptional academic merit who will also contribute to the diversity of the student body in their programs of study. The RWF particularly supports the recruitment of outstanding doctoral students who are Black/African American, American Indian, and Hispanic/Latino(a) American. International students are not eligible for the RWF.
NM Minority Doctoral Loan Repayment Assistance Program
The Minority Doctoral Loan Repayment Assistance Program provides educational loan repayment assistance to eligible faculty employed within New Mexico’s public colleges and universities. The purpose of the Minority Doctoral Loan Repayment Assistance Program is to increase the number of ethnic minorities and women available to teach engineering, physical or life sciences, mathematics and other academic disciplines in which ethnic minorities and women are demonstrably underrepresented in New Mexico’s colleges and universities.
Health Policy Doctoral Fellowship Program
The Health and Social Policy Doctoral Fellowship is a doctoral fellowship program for Ph.D. students with educational and research interests that involve social policy, including but not limited to: health policy and health inequalities, immigration policy, environmental policy, educational policy, and criminal justice policy. The University New Mexico’s Center for Social Policy (UNM-CSP) seeks to increase the participation of the nation’s under-represented racial and ethnic groups (e.g., Hispanic, Native American, African American, etc.) in the development, implementation, and analysis of social policy. At the core of the UNM-CSP’s mission is the education of a new generation of leaders in health and social policy research, leaders whose backgrounds represent the full diversity of the U.S. population.
Campus and Community Affairs:
Alfonso Ortiz Center for Intercultural Studies
The Alfonso Ortiz Center for Intercultural Studies promotes equitable partnerships between communities and the University of New Mexico through collaborative programs in the humanities and public anthropology.
An eclectic and experienced group of faculty and staff developing partnerships that will create sustainable changes in the UNM climate, contributing to increased success and satisfaction for women and minority faculty
Project for New Mexico Graduates of Color
The Project for New Mexico Graduates of Color (PNMGC) is a student-led program working to retain graduate students of color through ongoing peer mentoring that provides academic, social, cultural and emotional support.”
The Men of Color Initiative (MOCI) is a project of the UNM Division for Equity and Inclusion that focuses on educational success and the well-being for men of color. MOCI is driven by Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Latino, Native and other men of color students organizing together with campus and community partners to increase access and success for men of color in education.
The Women’s Resource Center is a place of advocacy, support, and safety for all members of the University of New Mexico and greater community. Through a feminist model of empowerment we offer educational, social, and cultural programming aimed at encouraging women’s self-determination and community engagement. The Women’s Resource Center promotes awareness and the advancement of women’s rights to ensure equity regardless of gender identity, sex, race, ability status, age, sexual orientation, economic class, or religious affiliation.
The Mission of the LGBTQ Resource Center is to provide service to UNM students, faculty, and staff of all gender identities and sexual orientations through support, advocacy, education, and safety. The LGBTQ Resource Center strives to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all members of the University of New Mexico and surrounding community. As a safe zone environment, we stand up against homophobia and value the worth and dignity of all people. Through education, we aim to bring a heightened visibility of the LGBTQ* community on campus and to issues that affect LGBTQ* individuals. Through leadership development, we promote a more civically engaged campus community committed to equality and equal opportunity for all people.
El Centro de la Raza positively impacts the transition, retention, and graduation of students through an engaging environment built on academic, cultural, personal and professional activities. El Centro commits to cultivate a supportive community that helps students develop skills to fulfill their life long goals and expectations.
American Indian Student Services
American Indian Student Services (AISS) was established during the 1980-1981 academic year to increase the recruitment and retention of Native students. Currently, American Indian Student Services provides a range of student support programming for American Indian students attending The University of New Mexico-Main Campus in an effort to ensure their academic achievement and assist in the development of personal, cultural, and social success. AISS is also a liaison for Native students attending local high schools and schools located on or near tribal reservations; tribal and community colleges; tribal governments; and tribal higher education programs and organizations that directly impact the recruitment and retention of American Indian students at The University of New Mexico-Main Campus.
African American Student Services
African American Student Services is committed to recognizing the differences within the African American culture, appreciating other cultures, and promoting programs within the university and the surrounding community that provide a cross-cultural perspective. Our staff is available to support the personal, academic, educational, and social development of students. This office is not a duplicate of other services on the campus, but rather it concentrates on the special concerns that arise from the experience of being an African American/Black on a pre-dominantly white campus. All students, regardless of ethnicity, are encouraged to participate in our cultural and academic programming.
UNM Division for Equity and Inclusion
The UNM Division for Equity and Inclusion promotes equity for all members of the University community by leading efforts and building sustainable partnerships to transform the campus environment, in addition to fostering inclusive excellence, promoting equity, and advocating social justice; and, in this way, nurture a climate that imbues diversity as an asset.
Research:
Latin American and Iberian Institute
The Latin American and Iberian Institute (LAII) fosters research and education within UNM about the cultures, languages, history, and societies of these world regions, and works to share UNM’s expertise and resources with partners including Central New Mexico Community College, K-12 schools, the National Hispanic Cultural Center, Instituto Cervantes, and other organizations in the community. LAII’s efforts are sustained and bolstered by UNM's community of scholars whose research centers on Mexico, Central America, South America, the Spanish speaking Caribbean, Spain, and Portugal. Over one hundred and twenty faculty members at UNM conduct research and/or teach on these regions, representing a wide range of disciplines, interests, and approaches. The Institute facilitates this scholarship, provides a focal point for interdisciplinary discussions, and distributes resources to seed new research projects for faculty and their students. Drawing on university resources, and in partnership with outside funders, LAII helps departments recruit highly qualified faculty and students, and enables students to acquire new languages, conduct field research, and complete their degrees efficiently.
Office of Community Engaged Learning and Research
The mission of CELR is to foster quality experiential learning opportunities for students, support faculty with their community-based teaching and scholarship, and facilitate mutually beneficial campus-community partnerships. The CELR works with academic departments to increase the number and quality of service-learning course offerings in all disciplines across campus and support faculty as they work to incorporate service-learning and community based research courses in undergraduate education, from freshman gateway courses to senior capstones.
