COD Students to Present Work at Prestigious Anthropology Conference

College of DuPage students Sharon Grimm (Downers Grove), Allen Garza (Addison) and Amber Julius (Glendale Heights) have been selected to present the results of their research at the 76th Annual Society for Applied Anthropology (SFAA) Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia this spring.

According to Dr. Derrick Willis, Associate Professor of Anthropology, the project developed from his Methods class where students learn to carry out independent research as well as submit abstracts for conferences. He said he was pleased with their selection to present at the conference, an opportunity he said he didn't have until he attended graduate school.

"Having student abstract submissions accepted at a national conference like the SFAA is a very big deal," Willis said. "I am so proud of them. They put great effort into their work and it is paying off. Seeing their accomplishments validates why I am here and why we as educators do what we do here at COD."

He said the students' participation at the conference will provide numerous opportunities for learning experiences and personal growth.

"Education does not end with the classroom. These students will gain firsthand experience about how to conduct themselves as professionals-in-training in this field. They will see another part of the world, network with other applied anthropologists and gain some ideas of what programs they want to transfer to in the future. They will also bond with and learn from each other as they present their works as a cohort and after they present their papers. In addition, they will have an opportunity to tour the beautiful international city of Vancouver."

Garza, Grimm and Julius said they are thrilled to have been invited to present their work at the conference.

"I feel incredibly honored and excited to attend the conference," Grimm said. "I'm very proud of our team and the work we've done. This will be a very valuable experience which not only looks good on a resume and four-year college applications, it will also be a lot of fun."

Grimm has already completed her A.A. degree at COD but enjoyed the Anthropology program at the College so much that she decided to take additional coursework before transferring to a four-year school this fall. She said the project has offered great hands-on experience and provided her a way to see into the future and get a taste of her career. About the conference, she said she is eager to see the projects of students and researchers from around the world and is excited to present with her team.

"I'm looking forward to sharing what we've learned," she said. "All the hard work and time we've put in this together will culminate at the conference."

According to Julius, the students' project is an ethnographic study of the College's library with the goal of making it more productive and helpful for students, an idea suggested by Willis that the students said paid off in rich information and opportunities to learn.

"The library here is not only a huge focal point and hub for students, it also acts as a community library for all learners and readers alike," said Julius. "Over the past few years, the library has undergone major renovations designed to accommodate anyone who walks through their doors. Whether people are aware of it or not, there is a lot that goes into making a library accessible so that the students can get the most out of it."

Julius is pursuing majors in Anthropology and Middle Eastern studies and is completing her general education requirements at COD. She said she plans to complete the College's Business Anthropology Certificate program, transfer to a four-year school and eventually earn her doctorate.

Julius said she has gained a lot of momentum for her future career through her work with the project.

"This two-part semester experience has definitely paved the way in shaping the growth of my skills by really demonstrating how to effectively go out in the field and achieve concrete data that can actually help make a difference to people's world experiences," Julius said. "To learn under Dr. Willis's field experiences has been a privilege that has allowed me to identify things I can improve on as well as things I need to change entirely."

Under the guidance of Willis, Garza, Grimm and Julius interviewed more than 40 students and a panel of librarians, digging for information about overall use of and experiences at the library. The team is currently analyzing the data to come up with results and effective solutions.

According to Garza, the project has provided real-world experiences that can help his ongoing education and career.

"You learn much better when it's hands-on," Garza said. "A textbook can only show you so much, but when you experience it firsthand, you learn what it's really about."

Garza is set to complete his A.A. degree and earn a certificate in Business Anthropology at COD by the end of spring term. He plans transfer to a four-year university in the fall to pursue studies with emphasis in anthropology and business/marketing. Garza said he initially chose COD because he wasn't sure what he wanted to do after high school and COD was also close to home, affordable and enabled him to explore his options. He said his experiences with the SFAA project, as well as his overall experience at COD, has exceeded his expectations.

"My experience at COD has been amazing," Garza said. "It's great to get this kind of knowledge at a community college. Usually people don't get this kind of opportunity until they are further into their education. This just shows how great COD is at helping students reach their goals."

Garza said after high school he wasn't sure what he wanted to do. College of DuPage seemed like the best choice because it was close to home and affordable, which allowed him to explore his options.

"I didn't expect COD to be like this; I love it," he said. "This school has great professors with a lot of experience and knowledge. If you really apply yourself and get involved by talking with your professors, joining clubs and exploring programs, you will get a great return on your investment here."

According to Grimm, who spent a year studying journalism at Southern Illinois University before coming to COD, her experiences at the College played a key role in helping her set her direction and her goals.

"When I first came to COD, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do," Grimm said. "I took a career development class and it changed my life. It's very important to me that I do something valuable and meaningful in my career. Through COD, I gained more self-confidence, discovered a passion for anthropology and found that opportunities started to become more available to me."

She said she is pleased with her experiences at COD and credits the small class sizes, abundant opportunities for hands-on work and real-world experiences and a supportive faculty as being particularly helpful.

"I like that a professor knows when you've missed a class," she said. "COD really helps prepare you for success in the real world. The teachers really want to be here and they care about and advocate for the students."

Julius described her experiences at COD as "encouraging and eye-opening."

"What surprised me the most is how the professors are so willing to go above and beyond for their students. From staying after class, using their spare time to help out students and providing encouragement for what lies ahead for our career paths, the array of help the professors provide is truly wonderful."

She added that she is also pleased with the opportunities for engagement on campus outside the classroom.

"I love all of the seminars that are held, such as the immigration panel and the 15th Amendment panel," she said. "These panels really give students a chance to get involved and listen to people who have firsthand experience handling sensitive topics."

Willis said the success of Garza, Grimm and Julius is a reflection not only of their hard work, but also of the quality of the College and the Anthropology program, which he attributes in part, to the successful collaboration between faculty and administration.

"Allen, Sharon and Amber are a great example of the high-caliber students we see entering our classrooms," Willis said. "COD has a phenomenal Anthropology department and I've found that as we raise the bar of expectations, students are able to meet those expectations. As educators it is our duty to raise the bar. Students in my methods classes have consistently been accepted to the SFAA and students in my past two honors classes have received the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship. This level of excellence is a strong indicator of the world-class education our students receive here at COD through our Anthropology department."

Click here for more information about the Anthropology program at College of DuPage.

Established in 1941, the SFAA is committed to promoting the integration of anthropological perspectives and methods in solving human problems throughout the world; to advocating for fair and just public policy based upon sound research; promoting public recognition of anthropology as a profession; and supporting continued professional development of the field.