The January roundup of Department of Anthropology news digs into book awards, graduate student accomplishments and research publication.
Professor Nelson Ting
Jenneca McCarter will defend her dissertation titled, "From Landscapes to Loci: Modeling Climate-Driven Human-Wildlife Interactions and Improving Genetic Tools for Red Colobus Conservation," noon Thursday, Feb. 19 at EMU Room 119 (Diamond Lake Room).
James Munyawera was announced as a Fall 2025 Leakey Foundation Baldwin Fellow. Congrats, James!
Doctoral student Malvya Chintakindi
Here is my recently published reflective essay in Home/Field webspace hosted by the Journal for the Anthropology of North America titled "Kitchen Floor Ethnography: Knowledge from the Margins."
Graduate student Sara Cotton
I recently got a paper published with Frances in Zoo Biology about the value of social connectivity in old age for captive baboons! People can access that article here!
Professor Scott Fitzpatrick
Published article: Ardren, Tracy, Lindsey Bloch, Barbara L. MacDonald, Alexa Kuo, Kelly R. Valero-Romero, K.R. Garcia, Scott M. Fitzpatrick, Victor D. Thompson, and Michelle J. LeFebvre. 2026. Provenance of Pottery from the Florida Keys: A Geochemical Pilot Study. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 69: 105519.
Accepted for Publication: Philippa Jorissen, Gabriel Sanchez, and Scott M. Fitzpatrick. In press. First Zooarchaeological Analysis of an Atoll Assemblage from Central Micronesia. Archaeology in Oceania (accepted January 2026).
Assistant Professor Zachary DuBois
Happy to share that The Center for Global Health at Arizona State University has awarded the 2026 Book Award to "Sex and Gender: Toward Transforming Scientific Practice” edited by L. Zachary DuBois, Anelis Kaiser Trujillo, and Margaret M. McCarthy. The award "highlights exemplary scholarly work, published in book form, that places people first in our understanding of global and/or local health challenges." Here's the link to the open access book.
Professors Josh Snodgrass and Larry Sugiyama
Larry and Josh published three articles in the special issue of American Journal of Human Biology dedicated to the Shuar Health and Life History Project. Hannah Cantrell was a coauthor on one of these articles as well:
Madimenos, F.C., Liebert, M.A., Cepon-Robins, T.J., Gildner, T.E., Urlacher, S.S., Bribiescas, R., Blackwell, A.D., Snodgrass, J.J., & Sugiyama, L.S. 2026. Market integration and reproductive transitions among Indigenous Shuar and neighboring non-Indigenous Ecuadorians in Amazonian Ecuador. American Journal of Human Biology, 38, in press.
Pfaff Nash, M., Ramirez, A.J., Kim, E.Y., Cantrell, H.N., Liebert, M.A., Madimenos, F.C., Snodgrass, J.J., Sugiyama, L.S., and Urlacher, S.S. 2026. Impaired intestinal function among Indigenous Shuar children of Amazonian Ecuador: Evidence from lactulose:mannitol tests of absorption and permeability. American Journal of Human Biology, in press.
Samsonov, A., Snodgrass, J.J., Liebert, M.A., Madimenos, F.C., Kim, E.Y., Pfaff Nash, M., Sugiyama, L.S., and Urlacher, S.S. 2026. Oxidative stress and its relationship with market integration and pathogen exposure among Indigenous Shuar children of Amazonian Ecuador. American Journal of Human Biology 38: e70206. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajhb.70206
Larry co-authored the introductory article for the special issue:
Urlacher, S.S., Gildner, T.E., and Sugiyama, L.S. 2026. The Shuar Health and Life History Project: Overview at 20 Years and Introduction to the Special Issue. American Journal of Human Biology 38: e70207.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajhb.70207
Larry and Josh also just had a collaborative piece published in Science Advances:
Amir, D., Ahl, R.E., Jordan, M.R., Bolotin, H., Bogese, M., Gonzalez, G.T., Callahan, T., Sugiyama, L.S., Otali, E., Tusimie, P., Bangayan, S., Snodgrass, J.J., and McAuliffe, K. 2026. The emergence of cooperative behaviors, norms, and strategies across five diverse societies. Science Advances 12. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adw9995
Assistant Professor Katelyn McDonough
The Journal of California and Great Basin Archaeology published an article about Anthropology alum Elizabeth Kallenbach in their Trailblazers series that highlights the work of up-and-coming researchers. Tom Connolly, Pam Endzweig, and Katelyn contributed essays.
Katelyn is a coauthor on a recent paper in Science Advances titled “Complex perishable technologies from the North American Great Basin reveal specialized Late Pleistocene adaptations”. Led by Richie Rosencrance (University of Nevada, Reno) and with four other coauthors from UO (Elizabeth Kallenbach, Tom Connolly, Dennis Jenkins, Pam Endzweig), this paper presents on rare Ice Age perishable technologies including bone needles, wooden traps, and sewn hide from central Oregon. The sewn hide is likely the oldest sewn material in the world and gives us a unique view into organic technologies constructed over 12,000 years ago. We were also able to identify many of the plant and animal taxa used to make these materials. The paper has been featured in a variety of outlets such as Science News and OPB.
Lexie Briggs of Museum of Natural and Cultural History
Here are three museum programs that might be of interest:
Arctic Adventure Family Day featuring the Jensen Arctic Collection
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Explore objects on special display from the Jensen Arctic Collection and investigate some cool arctic animals, the science of the Northern Lights, and how people make this place their home. Check out the museum, enjoy the snacks and explore the family-friendly activities.
Activities are bilingual Spanish/English and are perfect for ages 3 and up.
This event is included with regular admission and free for MNCH members and UO ID card holders. Show your Oregon Trail or other EBT card for an admission discount.
ReEnvisioned Artist Talk with Jeremy Okai Davis
Thursday, Feb. 26
6 p.m.
Join artist Jeremy Okai Davis to explore his painting practice for ReEnvisioned-Contemporary Portraits of Our Black Ancestors and the influence the project has had on him. Davis will share insights into how history, identity, and legacies shape his work, offering a deeper look into the creative journey behind the powerful, narrative-driven paintings.
Included with regular admission; free for MNCH members and UO ID card holders. Show your Oregon Trail or other EBT card for an admission discount.
Listening to the Pulse of the Past
Thursday, March 12
6 p.m.
Artist and poet Sam Roxas-Chua Yao has worked alongside archaeologists in Astoria, The Dalles, and John Day to explore Chinese history in Oregon. Come discover how Sam translates artifacts to art through audio field recordings, calligraphy using inks made from collected material, and poetry inspired by site surveys and subject matter experts.
Included with regular admission; free for MNCH members and UO ID card holders. Show your Oregon Trail or other EBT card for an admission discount.