MERCED - As UC Merced welcomes its fourth freshman class, the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts introduces its newest major course of study: Anthropology.
A social science dedicated to understanding humankind's diversity and what makes humans "human," anthropology is an ideal academic program for the new and growing university that seeks to prepare students for personal and professional success in a globalizing world.
UC Merced has three professors of anthropology whose areas of expertise provide a well-rounded view of the field as a whole. Faculty experts will conduct research and train students in three segments of anthropology: socio-cultural (contemporary societies), archaeological (past societies) and biological (linking biology, culture and society - past and present).
Robin DeLugan (socio-cultural) has been with UC Merced since 2006. Her research interests include national identity in post-civil war El Salvador. DeLugan has taken an active role in serving the Valley community through her research since moving here. She's a driving force behind the Community-University Research & Action for Justice (CURAJ), an initiative to foster collaborations of university research and local community expertise to improve the well-being of disadvantaged residents of the Central Valley.
Kathleen Hull (archaeological) has been with the university since 2006. Her study of the effects of disease and colonialism on California's native populations has led her to conduct research in Yosemite Valley. This summer, she presented research findings at a conference in Europe and also attended an anthropological methods analysis workshop in North Carolina.
Linda-Anne Rebhun (socio-cultural) is the newest addition to the anthropology faculty, joining the team for fall 2008. Rebhun's expertise is in medical anthropology and focuses on women's health and well-being. Before accepting her position here at UC Merced, Rebhun taught at Yale University, where she studied romance in Brazil and sexual health in Mexico.
All of these professors are available to provide expert commentary to the media by contacting Tonya Luiz in the UC Merced Office of Communication at 209-228-4408 or tluiz@ucmerced.edu. For information on anthropology at UC Merced: anth.ucmerced.edu.
