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Anthropology

What role does anthropology have in community and economic development?

 

 

"Cultural anthropologists use ethnographic methods that include both quantitative and qualitative data to provide holistic insight on how a specific community functions and understanding what that values. It's an area of study that is about depth more than breadth. When doing development work, it is essential to understand the larger cultural context you are working in.  Anthropologists examine the various impacts on the local population, environment, society, and economy. I am particularly interested in the field of public anthropology. In this field, anthropologists view the population they are working with as partners, not necessarily as research subjects. Anthropologists work alongside the community to help advance them toward the their goals. In public anthropology research is often rooted in positively influencing a social issue where results can help inform public policy, program design and management, and advocacy efforts." 

How does the Stevenson Center cohort impact your graduate experience?

"I would say the cohort is likely everyone's favorite aspect of the fellowship program. Everyone is brilliant. Our cohort courses are heavily discussion based and you can easily see how students can relate theoretical ideas and frameworks of development to their own experiences. The diversity of travel and service experience is truly unique and inspiring. The students in this program are passionate about community development and that is something that bonds us even more. I feel that because of the cohort, we are getting a lot more out of our courses than other students because we are going through a unique program. And while the academic workload is overwhelming, relating our past experiences with our studies and future contributions to the field helps keep us a little more sane. Beyond the classroom, our cohort is a family. We support one another is a way that is more than that of ordinary classmates. It is certainly a valuable network that I look to stay a part of after our studies have finished. Everyone in this program is going to do great things for this world. I have no doubt about that." 

Student: 
Cecilia Montesdeoca

Hometown:
Bloomington, IL

Undergraduate Degree:
Anthropology & Community Health Education
Illinois State University (2013)

 

Stevenson Center Program: 
Applied Community and Economic Development Fellow

How does the Stevenson Center’s program shape your graduate experience?

"After seeing how the Stevenson Center masters programs operate, I couldn't imagine doing graduate school any other way. By being in a cohort you’re surrounded by brilliant, experienced and ambitious students. Being able to take courses in other departments is refreshing, especially seeing how the different fields approach the same topic from various angles. The one-year course work, one year professional practice was the deal breaker for me. Coming back to school was a challenge, and I know that many of us miss being in the field, being hands on, and being directly involved with communities.  I'm really excited to see where I'll end up for my professional practice. The Stevenson Center staff has been doing an excellent job in guiding us through the placement process. They make great efforts to gain understanding of what each fellow wants out of their practicum. That way when all the host applications are in, they can help find us an agency that fits our interests the best."

Graduate Assistantship

Cecilia is working with Dr. Liv Stone with her research regarding anarchism, social documentary film, and social movements in Mexico City. Cecilia's primary task is to transcribe, in Spanish, in-depth interviews using qualitative analysis software. She also compiles relevant articles from Mexican news websites that relate to Dr. Stone's research. Through her research assistantship, Cecilia has gained a better understanding of film production and distribution in transnational, and anti-capitalist social movements in Mexico. Cecilia’s research assistantship experience connects well to her studies in media and visual anthropology and Stevenson Center community development courses. Spending extensive time transcribing in-depth interviews and learning coding methods has also better prepares Cecilia to conduct her own ethnographic research for her future thesis project. 

Former Service Experience

Cecilia served as a project manager for a Peruvian earthquake recovery, community development non-profit for 9-months in 2010. In 2013 she served with the Illinois Public Health Association AmeriCorps program where she worked with the McLean County Health Department. Cecilia also served as a Team Leader with AmeriCorps NCCC Southwest Region where she led a team of 11 young adults to perform service projects in Houston, Little Rock,
St. Louis and Wichita. 

 

 

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