The Society for Applied Anthropology‘s (SfAA) annual meeting in 2023 will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, under the theme “Applied Anthropology at a Crossroad.” The meeting, scheduled for March 28-April 1, will occur at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. It promises to be a valuable opportunity for scholars, practicing social scientists, and students from diverse disciplines and organizations to discuss their work and brainstorm ideas for the future.

More Info About the Annual Meeting

Applied anthropology faces a critical juncture in the current social, economic, and environmental context. Despite longstanding problems, new challenges are emerging in a rapidly changing world affected by a global pandemic, systemic inequalities, and geopolitical instability. The theme of the annual meeting seeks to address these issues and explore innovative approaches to enhance teaching, research, and practice in anthropology and related social sciences.

The meeting aims to encourage collaboration across disciplines and subdisciplines to employ anthropological research for social impact ethically. Some of the key questions that will be addressed include how to train better future generations of anthropologists and other social scientists for their work, how to employ research methods and findings more effectively to ameliorate current problems, and how to influence decision-makers in the public and private spheres.

Cincinnati, known as the “Queen City,” is an apt location for the meeting, given its rich history as a crossroad. From its founding at the Ohio and Licking Rivers confluence in 1788, Cincinnati has played a significant role in American history. It served as an important stop on the Underground Railroad, linking slavery and freedom, and its iconic Roebling Suspension Bridge has linked Ohio and Kentucky since 1856. Today, major interstate highways crisscross the metropolitan area, making it a central gathering place for cultural events, museums, music, and the arts.

My Panels

If you are at SfAA 2023, please check out my two panels. One is streaming on demand, and the other is in person.

Speed Careers!

Wednesday, March 29th | 3:45 PM – 5:30 PM

Hosted by the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NAPA), it features nine professionals from diverse disciplines who will provide a rapid summary of their best projects. The panel is designed to help aspiring and practicing anthropologists visualize the breadth of professional opportunities available. After the presentations, the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions in a moderated Q&A period. The panel includes professionals from LTG Associates, Azimuth Labs, HeadFort Consulting, Emory University, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and Conifer Research.

Speakers include:

  • Cathleen Crain –National Association for the Practice of Anthropology, President, National Association for the Practice of Anthropology
  • Matt Artz –Azimuth Labs, Founder & Principal Researcher
  • Suanna Selby Crowley –HeadFort Consulting, LLC, President
  • Rachel Hall-Clifford – Emory University, Assistant Professor, Human Health and Global Health
  • Jennifer Studebaker – Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Project and Business Integration Specialist
  • Nathaniel Tashima – LTG Associates, Inc., Managing Partner
  • Evan Hanover –  Conifer Research, Director of Research

The Ever Expanding Opportunities for Anthropology in Tech, and How to Get Your Foot in the Door!

Tuesday, March 28th | 8:00 AM – 8:01 AM

The panel features practitioners of anthropology who work in the tech sector. The discussion focuses on the diversity of work options in tech and how anthropological training is operationalized to solve problems at scale. The panel intends to engage participants interested in working in tech and will cover career paths that led to working in the sector, the value of anthropological training in these roles, and what skills, knowledge, and area-specific training helped open the door. The speakers include professionals from Microsoft, Azimuth Labs, Meta, Crossover Health, and Code for America. Ana Pitchon from Microsoft chairs the panel.

Speakers include: