Spotlight: Catalina Villamil !

Catalina Villamil is the UAS's treasurer and a sophomore in the college, studying anthropology with a Human Biology concentration and (hopefully soon) will submatriculate in the MS program. She's not working right now (hopefully soon) and she don't know what she's doing for summer yet (hopefully soon). She like cats, dogs, and tea parties and British country homes. She's also from San Juan, Puerto Rico!

Spotlight: Rhea May ! ! !

Rhea May is a sophomore in the college majoring in Anthropology with a Human Biology concentration, and minoring in Health and Societies. She is from West Virginia, and transferred to Penn this year from West Virginia University. In addition to being academic chair of the Anthropology Undergraduate Advisory Board, she is also a member of Arts House Dance Company and Big Brothers Big Sisters. This summer, Rhea will be interning at the archival section of the Penn Museum. 

Spotlight: Rachel Higgins

Rachel Higgins is a junior in the College from North Carolina and, as an Anthropology major, she is concentrating in cultural anthropology. Rachel is also pursuing a minor in Art History. In addition to being Co-chair of events for the AUAB, she is working for Dr. Greg Urban as a research assistant. She is co-chair of Penn Dance (preceded in this position by the AUAB's very own Julia Cuccaro), and is also involved in the Chi Omega Sorority and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Spotlight: Chris Meznaric

Christopher Meznaric is a senior in the College, majoring in anthropology with a cultural/linguistic concentration. He is a first generation American, born to Croatian parents. His anthropological interests include race studies in the modern world and the anthropology of corporations. In addition to the position of Secretary of the Anthropology UAB, his interests and goals include filmmaking, the entertainment business, and music. He also plays a mean game of canasta.

Spotlight: Shauna Goldman

Shauna Goldman is a senior in the College, majoring in Anthropology with a concentration in Human Biology. From El Paso, Texas, Shauna is co-publicist of the AUAB and is additionally active in Chi Omega and Big Brothers Big Sisters at Penn. With a particular interest in understanding the health disparities immigrants face in the US, Shauna works with the Urban Nutrition Initiative. She plans to attend medical school after graduation.

Spotlight: Julia Cuccaro

Julia Cuccaro is a Cultural Anthropology major with minors in Italian Studies and English. She is the Vice-Chair of the AUAB and is interested in the use of arts in healing, the stigma of alternative therapies in western cultures, semiotics, performance anthropology, and ritual practices. She is also a member of the Penn Dance Company and enjoys reading, music, and traveling.

AUAB Positions

Anthropology Undergraduate Advisory Board

Positions:

Chair: Must be a declared anthropology major and a rising senior the fall semester following election. The chair will coordinate events, assign tasks and run meetings, reserve rooms and work closely with the undergraduate chair and anthro faculty. Ideally, this should be a highly organized person who is very familiar with the working of the Anthropology Department and the University as a whole.

Vice-Chair of Communications: The Vice-Chair of Communications will be responsible for updating the UAB web-site, maintaining the anthro research and activities blogs, and working with the Anthro Department on the Department website. This person will handle the UAB listserve and send messages to the majors via email. The Vice-Chair of Communications will ideally be familiar with web-design and upkeep and have time to update the website periodically.

Secretary- The Secretary is responsible for taking minutes at meetings and at events to relay to fellow UAB members or to Anthropology undergraduates. The Secretary is crucial for the smooth running of the AUAB.

Publicist- The Publicist is responsible for publicizing AUAB or Anthropology-related events. The Publicist has the duty of making posters that will interest and engage the Anthropology community at Penn.

Co-Chairs of Events: The Events Co-Chairs are the backbone of the UAB. They contact professors and speakers, set-up and breakdown events, organize refreshments and advertise for all the events.

Financial Liason: Obviously, the Treasurer handles the financial empire of the UAB, balancing the books and procuring funds from the Department. The Treasurer makes sure UAB members are not skimming slush fund arbitrage profits from the UAB treasury.

Members at Large: As the AUAB is regaining momentum and building the Board to be successful in future years, Members at Large will be appointed by the Board to assist in the planning and running of AUAB events. This position is especially designed for rising upperclassmen who intend to be future leaders of the AUAB.

Spotlight: Serena Stein

Serena Stein, a senior in the College, majors in Anthropology and Comparative Literature and Theory. She is current chair of the AUAB, and encourages all majors, minors and prospective students to track her down to chat and get involved; she looks forward to meeting you! With interests in medical and cultural anthropology, Serena spent sophomore summer in a Toba indigenous community in northern Argentina and last summer in the highlands of Guatemala on Lake Atitlán. She is also a member of the Philomathean Society and a PennQuest leader.

Spotlight: Joanna Shujman

Joanna Shujman, in the Class of 2009, is the AUAB Secretary/Publicity Chair. Majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Cinema Studies, Joanna has particular interest in Cultural Anthropology and Media Studies. Her other hobbies include drawing, photography, and skiing. On campus, Jo is also involved with the Chi Omega sorority, Wharton MBA Career Management, and 85 Broads.

Spotlight: Rich Slavin

Richard Slavin is a senior in the College, majoring in Cultural Anthropology and International Relations. From Northeast Philadelphia, Rich is Events Co-Chair of the AUAB. His interests include globalization's effect on culture, the cultures of multinational corporations, the use of archaeology in nationalistic pursuits, and repatriation of cultural objects. Rich also enjoys baseball, cinema, and studying world affairs.