A Message from the Chair
The past year was a tumultuous one for many in our community, for higher education, and for the world.
We began the year with immigration arrests in Evanston that made national news. Towards the end of fall quarter, Northwestern made a historic deal with the federal government that met both relief and consternation among students and faculty. And now, at the end of the year, oil shock caused by the US war on Iran is raising the cost of everything we do as scholars, educators, and students.
It is enough to make one’s head spin.
It also shows us why we need anthropology: the discipline invested in understanding the diversity of human experience across the globe and across histories, cultures, biologies, and languages.
Here in the Anthropology Department, we persisted through all of this year’s challenges by doing what we do best: continuing to build an empathetic and ethical community committed to the advancement of knowledge in pursuit of human wellbeing.
In classrooms, publications, labs, field sites, and archives, we generated important insights into many of the critical forces that shape this tumultuous world. And we explored ways that we might deal with its dimensions in various realms, including the environment, politics, economics, health, and social interaction across difference and hierarchy.
In this newsletter and on our website, you can learn about our many accomplishments this year--including prestigious awards, honors, grants, and fellowships, completed Bachelor’s and PhD theses (and their topics!), and job placements.
You can read features on the accomplishments of select faculty and graduates.
You can learn more about our research all over the world, and about our community-building work inside and outside of Northwestern.
2025-2026 was also our last year of residence in the historic houses on Hinman Avenue. Anthropologists have called 1810 Hinman Avenue home for generations. Given that we are forever fascinated by the wonders of humanity, it seems only fitting that we are turning the building over to the fresh, creative hands of the artists in the Department of Art, Theory, and Practice.
Artwork of 1810 Hinman Ave by Jackson Krause.
We hope to see you next year in our new home on Sheridan Road, with its state-of-the art facilities and expansive opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the university.
And last but not least….congratulations to this year’s graduates! You make us so proud. Please come back and visit.
Sincerely,
Jessica Winegar