Alumni Profiles
Meet some graduates from the department’s undergraduate program.
emma zblewski, B.A. Anthropology 2018
Where is she now?
After graduating from Northwestern, Emma spent two years with the CDC Public Health Associate Program (PHAP). She was placed at the Ohio Department of Health doing HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis prevention. She is now a board member for Lansing Syringe Access (a needle exchange/harm reduction program), and is an MD PhD candidate at Michigan State University. Emma’s PhD is in medical anthropology, and she is planning a domestic dissertation project on health disparities in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). She wishes to do her residency in family medicine.
jeffrey frankel, B.A. Anthropology 2017
Where is he now?
After graduation in 2017, Jeffrey went to veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a VMD in 2021. During his time in school, he worked with eight different species of nonhuman primates in laboratory settings at a variety of institutions across the US, ranging from academic to pharmaceutical to national primate centers. Following completion of his veterinary degree, Jeffrey stayed at Penn for a residency in laboratory animal medicine, where he provides medical and surgical care to not only primates, but also to a variety of other mammalian, avian, and aquatic species.
De'sean weber, B.A. Anthropology 2017
Where is he now?
De’Sean Weber currently serves as the Worker-Owned Enterprises Director, where he oversees the incubation and training of worker-owned-and-run businesses that generate and maintain wealth in communities. In his role, he is dedicated to promoting more democratic, just, and equitable forms of community economic development throughout Miami-Dade County. Previously, De’Sean was the Resilience Manager at The Miami Foundation, where he led the implementation of a collective impact effort to drive inclusive economic prosperity in Miami. He has held several roles within national advocacy and policy organizations such as The Democracy Collaborative, the Congressional Hunger Center, and Prosperity Now in Washington, D.C.
erin bennett, B.A. Anthropology 2016
Where is she now?
Erin graduated from Northwestern in 2016. She later graduated with a Masters in Public Health from the George Washington University in 2019. Since then, Erin has been working on dementia epidemiology research at GWU (her current title is Senior Research Associate). She also consults for a group at Massachusetts General Hospital that is working on research to improve representation of historically-marginalized populations in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. She is currently in the process of applying for PhD programs in Environmental Health and Epidemiology.
Omar Jamil, B.A. Anthropology 2012
Where is he now?
After graduating, Omar taught at The Noble Network of Charter Schools through Teach for America. He taught Biological Anthropology (Senior Science Elective) and AP Biology and Chemistry, and received his Masters of Arts in Secondary Education and Teaching from Dominican University. After his Masters, Omar attended medical school at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is currently a Chief Resident at the University of Chicago.
In the past, Omar worked as a researcher at the Laboratory of Human Biology Research.
Peter Luckow, B.A. Anthropology 2010
Where is he now?
Peter is the cofounder and Chief Operating Officer of Last Mile Health (formerly Tiyatien Health). He is also a cofounder and on the Board of Directors for GlobeMed. In 2013, Peter was named one of Forbes’ 30 under 30 Social Entrepreneurs. He is currently a Emergency Medicine Resident Physician at NYU’s School of Medicine.
Robin Kazmier, B.A. Anthropology and Geography 2004
Where is she now?
Currently, Robin is a Science Editor at PBS NOVA. She was also the editor and project manager for Zona Tropical Press, which publishes English-language field guides and other natural history books.
In the past, Robin worked at Common Ground International, LLC; La Iguana Chocolate, Organic Chocolate Farm; and Northwestern University Study Abroad Office.