Departmental News

Posted:  May 15, 2025 - 12:00pm

In the 2024-2025 Academic Year, the UNM Department of Anthropology received several large gifts supporting our programs:

Endowed Gifts

The family of Florence Hawley Ellis, faculty in the UNM Department of Anthropology from 1935-1971, has generously established The Florence Hawley Ellis Archaeological Endowed Fund to support graduate student archaeological research.  Dr. Hawley Ellis was the first woman faculty member in the department, and one of the first female Anthropologists in the United States.

The family of Dr. Anita L. “Susie” Alvarado, faculty in the UNM Department of Anthropology from 1972-1996, has generously established The Anita L "Susie" Alvarado Memorial Endowment.  The endowment will provide support to current Anthropology graduate students to support research, fieldwork, and travel.

Mr. Howard Lot Smith, an undergraduate of the UNM Department of Anthropology, has established The Howard Lot Smith Endowed Award for Undergraduate Anthropology. This award will support research and fieldwork for an out of state student who is attending UNM.

Non-Endowed Gifts

Jeannette Larson has generously donated $25,000 to support the establishment of the Clark Field Library Intern Program.  This program will provide part time employment to a student currently enrolled in a Library Sciences Program.  The intern will provide cataloging for the Department’s Clark Field Archive and Library, allowing the department to continue to receive donations. Ms. Larson has previously established the J.J. Larson Undergraduate Support Scholarship to support undergraduate research.

Dr. Ken Barger, Emeritus Professor, Anthropology at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis has generously provided $10,000 to support the Alfonso Ortiz Fellowship for Undergraduates.  This fellowship program was established in honor of Alfonso Ortiz, former Professor of Anthropology and recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (the "Genius Award), for undergraduate students majoring in Anthropology, Native American Studies, History, and American Studies.