Welcome to the General Anthropology Division (GAD)

About the General Anthropology Division (GAD)

One of the largest, most diverse sections of the American Anthropological Association, the General Anthropology Division (GAD) is an evolving coalition that connects and celebrates anthropology across the span of contemporary subfields, multidisciplinary inquiries, and publics. Cross-disciplinary engagement and small-group governance make GAD a home in the AAA for those whose interests transgress disciplinary categorization.

GAD supports new areas of inquiry, encourages member initiatives, and mentors members in leadership roles through our committees, publications, slate of awards, and annual GAD Distinguished Lecture.

GAD membership ($25 annually, $10 for students) includes an electronic subscription to Anthropology Now, a general interest magazine that promotes interdisciplinary conversations and supports anthropology in the classroom.

Whether your interests lie in the study of the digital world, the discipline’s history, teaching and collegial support, or in launching new cross-disciplinary initiatives, GAD welcomes new members.

Join GAD Today

Vision and Values

The General Anthropology Division of the American Anthropological Association stands in solidarity with the Association of Black Anthropologists and other anthropological communities in opposing the state-sanctioned violence against African descended peoples and other oppressed groups. We stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and protests throughout the world calling for racial justice and an end to police violence.

We renounce policies and practices that support systematic racism, sexism, as well as the dismissal of indigenous and immigrant rights. In doing this, we recognize the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black and Brown communities throughout the United States and commit to using anthropological knowledge, insights, and platforms to address these grave injustices.

We pledge to work within the discipline of anthropology to acknowledge and redress the way our field has been and continues to be complicit in the project of white supremacy (in all its manifestations) and to chart a corrective for moving forward. Accordingly, we renounce the systemic devaluation of Black life and remain steadfast in confronting anti-Black racism, patriarchal sexism, transphobia, and homophobia, both inside and outside of anthropology.

GAD Committees

  • CASTAC

    Committee on the Anthropology of Science, Technology and Computing

    CASTAC offers a forum in which to organize sessions for meetings, exchange ideas, and network with other scholars with similar research interests. CASTAC maintains a blog and mailing list, runs a mentorship program at the annual meeting, awards a graduate student paper prize, and, with the Society for the Anthropology of Work, awards the Diana Forsythe Prize.

    Platypus blog

    Join the email list

    CASTAC Website

  • TAIG

    Teaching Anthropology Interest Group

    TAIG is a community of like-minded educators and offers a forum to reflect on your own career, and how vital good teaching and mentoring have been to you. TAIG wants to help you nurture and support those skills.

    The TAIG blog disseminates short, informal articles that relate to pedagogical approaches and reflections on the art and practice of teaching anthropology. Through the mailing list TAIG members stay connected and share ideas and resources related to teaching in the discipline.

    Join the email list

    TAIG Blog

  • HOAIG

    History of Anthropology Working Group

    The History of Anthropology Interest Group (HOAIG) provides a gathering place within the AAA for all those interested in the history of anthropology and the human sciences. Each year we organize and help publicize events at the annual meeting, including the George W. Stocking Symposium in History of Anthropology and an informal lunch gathering. We also maintain an email list for history of anthropology-related announcements and discussions.

    HOAIG Email List

  • FOSAP

    Federation of Small Anthropology Programs

    Those who work with, or care about small anthropology organizations are welcome to become members. In practice, our interests have centered around coping with instability for small departments in times of academic downsizing and in the challenges and opportunities for teaching anthropology in such small departments. We are open to any other contributions and interests from our members and, in particular, in fostering interactions among members from different institutional backgrounds.

    Read the FOSAP Retrospective

    FOSAP Journal

GAD Officers

  • Juno Salazar Parreñas, Ph.D.

    President

    Associate Professor of Science & Technology Studies and Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Cornell University

    parrenas@cornell.edu

  • Elizabeth Reddy, Ph.D.

    President-Elect and Awards Chair

    Assistant Professor of Engineering, Design & Society, Colorado School of Mines

    reddy@mines.edu

  • Joshua Babcock, Ph.D.

    Communications Director

    Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Brown University

    joshua_babcock@brown.edu

  • Paul Christensen, Ph.D.

    Secretary-Treasurer

    Associate Professor of Anthropology, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

    christen@rose-hulman.edu

  • David S. Lowry, Ph.D.

    Member-at-Large

    Assistant Professor, Anthropology & Native American Studies, University of Southern Maine

    david.lowry@maine.edu

  • Sarah G. Grant, Ph.D.

    Member-at-Large

    Associate Professor, Division of Anthropology, California State University, Fullerton

    sagrant@fullerton.edu

  • Josie Callahan

    Student Representative

    Ph.D. Candidate in Science and Technology Studies, Cornell University

    jc3657@cornell.edu

  • Kathryn A. Kozaitis, Ph.D.

    President Emerita

    Professor Emerita of Anthropology, Georgia State University

    kozaitis@gsu.edu

Committees & Interest Group Leadership

  • Audrey Ricke, Ph.D.

    Chair, Teaching Anthropology Interest Group (TAIG)

    Lecturer, Indiana University School of Liberal Arts

    acricke@iupui.edu

  • Svetlana Borodina, Ph.D.

    Co-Chair, Committee for the Anthropology of Science, Technology and Computing (CASTAC)

    Mellon Teaching Fellow and Lecturer in Anthropology, Columbia University

    sb4468@columbia.edu

  • Nicole Taylor, Ph.D.

    Co-Chair, Committee for the Anthropology of Science, Technology and Computing (CASTAC)

    Associate Professor of Anthropology, Texas State University

    ntaylor@txstate.edu

  • Ana Carolina de Assis Nunes, Ph.D.

    Co-Chair, Committee for the Anthropology of Science, Technology and Computing (CASTAC)

    PhD Candidate in Applied Anthropology, Oregon State University

    nunesa@oregonstate.edu

  • Nick Barron, Ph.D.

    Convener, History of Anthropology

    Assistant Professor-in-Residence, Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

    nicholas.barron@unlv.edu

GAD Awards Committee

  • Elizabeth Reddy, Ph.D.

    President-Elect and Awards Chair

    Assistant Professor of Engineering, Design & Society, Colorado School of Mines

    reddy@mines.edu

General Anthropology Bulletin

  • Conrad Kottak, Ph.D.

    General Anthropology Bulletin Co-Editor

    Professor of Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan

    ckottak@umich.edu

  • Lisa Gezon, Ph.D.

    General Anthropology Bulletin Co-Editor

    Professor, Department of Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology, University of West Florida

    lgezon@westga.edu

2025 Programming Committee

  • Katie Nelson, Ph.D.

    Member-at-Large: Program Chair

    Instructor of Anthropology, Sociology, InverHills Community College

    knelson@inverhills.edu

  • David S. Lowry, Ph.D.

    Member-at-Large

    Assistant Professor, Anthropology & Native American Studies, University of Southern Maine

    david.lowry@maine.edu

  • Sarah G. Grant, Ph.D.

    Member-at-Large

    Associate Professor, Division of Anthropology, California State University, Fullerton

    sagrant@fullerton.edu

Past Presidents

We’re missing details of GAD’s early years. Have historical information to add? Please contact us!

  • 1975≤: Jane Livingston?

  • 1976-1978: Sylvia Forman

  • 1978-1980: Marvin Harris

  • 1980-1982: Conrad Kottak (Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Washington D.C.)

  • 1986-1987: Sylvia Forman (Philadelphia, Chicago)

  • 1988-1989: Marvin Harris (Phoenix, Washington, D.C.)

  • 1990-1992: Conrad Kottak (New Orleans, Chicago, San Francisco)

  • 1993-1994: Nancie Gonzalez (Washington D.C., Atlanta)

  • 1995-1996: David McCurdy (Washington D.C., San Francisco)

  • 1997-1998: Elliott Skinner (Washington, D.C., Philadelphia)

  • 1999-2000: Patricia Rice (Chicago, San Francisco)

  • 2001-2002: Jonathan Marks (Washington D.C., New Orleans)

  • 2003-2004: Karl Heider (Chicago, Atlanta)

  • 2005-2006: Peter Brown (Washington D.C., San Jose)

  • 2007-2008: Susan Sutton (Washington D.C., San Francisco)

  • 2009-2010: Emily Schultz (Philadelphia, New Orleans)

  • 2011-2012: Chris Furlow (Montreal, San Francisco)

  • 2013-2014: Sam Cook (Chicago, Washington, D.C.)

  • 2015-2016: Eric Lassiter (Denver, Minneapolis)

  • 2017-2018: Robert A. Myers (Washington, D.C., San Jose)

  • 2019-2020: Anthony Kwame Harrison (Vancouver, BC, CAN, St. Louis, MO – in person meeting cancelled due to COVID-19)

  • 2021-2022: Jennifer Cool (Baltimore, Seattle)

General Anthropology Division Bylaws

GAD is a Section of the American Anthropological Association

(adopted November 1984)

(amended 1987, 1990, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2009)

    1. The Section shall be known as the General Anthropology Division of the American Anthropological Association, hereinafter referred to as the Section.

    1. The purposes of the Section shall be (1) to foster the continued development of general anthropology in all its aspects; (2) to represent within the American Anthropological Association Members who possess or identify with a holistic view of the discipline; (3) to facilitate the communication of information among Members concerned with the study, teaching, and practice of general anthropology, among Members whose scholarly, intellectual, or vocational interests cross-cut the areas of concentration of the more specialized Sections, and among Members with focal concerns for the development of the discipline as a whole; and (4) to disseminate general disciplinary information to scholars, within and outside the American Anthropological Association, and to the public.

    1. The Section shall be autonomous in all matters within its field that are not reserved by the By-Laws of the American Anthropological Association, inimical to the American Anthropological Association’s interests, or prohibited by law.

    2. The Section shall have an elected President, President-elect, Secretary-Treasurer and Communications Officer, and other elected or appointed officers as set forth in these By-Laws.

    3. The Section is empowered to determine membership dues.

    4. The Section shall determine voting requirements on all Section matters.

    5. The Section may engage in publishing and program activities, appoint editors, committees and other agents, determine prizes and awards in accordance with American Anthropological Association policies, and set publication and program policies appropriate to its purposes.

    6. The Section shall adopt and maintain By-Laws or Rules of Procedure consistent with the By-Laws of the American Anthropological Association. The Section shall file with the American Anthropological Association Secretary a copy of its current By-Laws or Rules of Procedure, and Table of Organization.

    1. Membership in the Section shall be open to any Member in good standing of the American Anthropological Association who supports the above purposes, subject to the payment of dues stipulated by the Executive Committee of the Section.

    2. A Member in good standing shall be eligible to hold elective or appointive office, participate in the scientific program, receive publications, and have one vote in nominating and electing officers and in the transaction of other business of the Section.

    3. For just cause, a Member may be deprived of membership by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors, subject to appeal to the Members at the Annual Meeting.

    1. The Executive Committee shall set the annual dues of Members and may establish rates for special categories of membership.

    2. Any Member in arrears in payment of dues shall lose all membership privileges.

    1. The officers shall be a President, President-elect, Secretary-Treasurer and Communications Officer.

    2. A Member in good standing shall be eligible to hold elective or appointive office, participate in the scientific program, receive publications, and have one vote in nominating and electing officers and in the transaction of other business of the Section.

    3. For just cause, a Member may be deprived of membership by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors, subject to appeal to the Members at the Annual Meeting.

    4. The Communications Officer shall manage the section website and listserv, and serve as Editor of the Division’s column in the Anthropology News.

    5. The Secretary-Treasurer shall have charge of the fiscal records of the Section and shall submit a draft budget for the approval of the Executive Committee not less than 60 days before the Annual Meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer shall have charge of the general records of the Section.6. The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve a four-year term, the fourth year as Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus. The fourth year will overlap the first year of the newly elected Secretary-Treasurer.

    6. The terms of office of all other officers shall be two years, beginning at the conclusion of the American Anthropological Association national meeting during the year that they are elected.

    7. Past presidents are invited to attend Executive Board Meetings as nonvoting members.

    1. There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of the officers, three members elected at-large from the membership of the Section and one student representative appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Executive Committee. Any committee or interest group affiliated with the Section be represented on the Section Board of Directors by its Chair or designee. The editorial board of General Anthropology Bulletin shall be represented on the Board of Directors by a designated representative, and have one vote.

    2. Subject to directives and limitations imposed by the Members of the Section, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to execute on behalf of the Section all powers and functions defined in these By-Laws.

    3. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once annually, at the time of the Annual Meeting and may met additionally on the call of the Chair or a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

    4. Members-at-Large will serve three year terms, one Member elected each year. The senior Board Member-at-Large will normally act as program chair, with the second most senior Board Member-at-Large serving as assistant program chair each year. The student representative on the Board will serve a two year term.

    5. The four Section officers (President, President-elect, Secretary-Treasurer and Communications Officer) shall make up the Executive Committee of the Board and may act for the Board when necessary.

    1. At the time of each Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors shall report its activities to the Members and to the Executive Board of the American Anthropological Association. The report shall include the reports of the President, Secretary-Treasurer, Communications Officer, editors of publications, committees, and other agents representing the Section.

    1. The Section shall hold an Annual Business Meeting at the time of the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association.

    2. The place and date of the Annual Meeting shall be disclosed to the Members not less than one hundred twenty (120) days in advance of the meeting. The Annual Meeting will occur at the time and place of the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association.

    3. New legislation or resolution proposed by Members for consideration at the Annual Business Meeting must be received by the Secretary-Treasurer at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting to be placed on the Agenda. A copy of the Agenda shall be furnished to all Members attending the Annual Business Meeting. Resolutions and new legislation passed at the Business Meeting shall take force ten (10) days after the Business Meeting, except cases where the Board of Directors votes, within ten (10) days and by a two-thirds majority, to submit a resolution to a mail ballot. Such a ballot shall be mailed by the Board of Directors within ten (10) days of the date after such a decision is made. Mail ballots so required shall be subject to provisions of Article XII. A majority of votes case shall constitute a favorable result.

    4. Business conducted at Section Meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, newly revised.

    5. 5. Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors or upon written request of five (5) percent of the Members.

    1. Two (2) percent of the Members in good standing shall constitute a quorum at the Annual Business Meeting.

    2. A majority of the Members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for transacting business.

    3. The business of the Section Board of Directors shall be transacted by majority vote unless otherwise provided in these By-Laws.

    1. Candidates for any elective office may be nominated by the Board of Directors, by a Nominations Committee, or by Members. All candidates shall be Members in good standing of the Section.

    2. A Nominations Committee of three (3) Members shall be appointed annually by the Board of Directors.

    3. The Nominations Committee shall nominate two (2) persons for each vacant office. These nominations shall be made known to Members by September 15.

    4. Two (2) percent of the Members in good standing may nominate any additional candidate for any office, provided the nomination is received in writing by the Secretary-Treasurer at least ninety (90) days before the Annual meeting.

    5. The secretary-Treasurer shall inform the prospective nominee of the probable extent of the responsibility of the office. A nomination becomes effective only upon filing with the Secretary-Treasurer a statement of the nominee’s willingness and ability to devote such time to the affairs of the Section as necessary to the effective execution of office.

    1. A member in good standing shall be entitled to cast one ballot in any election or referendum.

    2. Ballots may be conducted by mail or electronic ballot in accordance with AAA bylaws. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to examine the eligibility of any voter.

    3. Thirty (30) days shall be allowed for the return of ballots. Ballots must be received by the American Anthropological Association by the stated return date to be counted.

    4. A service agency may be engaged to tally the votes and certify the results to the Board of Directors.

    5. The candidate receiving the most votes for a contested office shall be elected; the Board of Directors shall hold a run-off election within ninety (90) days to resolve all ties.

    1. A referendum may be conducted by mail or electronic ballot at any time upon initiation of the Board of Directors, or upon receipt by the Secretary-Treasurer of a petition signed by two (2) percent of the Members in good standing. A majority of votes received shall constitute a favorable vote.

    1. The fiscal year of the Section shall be that of the American Anthropological Association.

    2. The Section shall submit an annual operating budget to the American Anthropological Association Executive Board, which, when approved, shall govern Section activities.

    3. The income from annual dues and from investments and other sources shall constitute a working fund, available for operating, publication, and current expenses consistent with the purposes of the Section.

    4. No financial obligation in excess of funds available in the Treasury shall be assumed by the Board of Directors or by any officer on behalf of the Section except that, for the purpose of this Section, estimated receipts from annual dues and other accounts receivable for the current year may be considered as available funds.

    5. The Section may establish special funds to be administered by the American Anthropological Association for purposes the Section may designate.

    1. The Anthropology News shall be the official newsletter of the Section.

    2. General Anthropology shall be the official bulletin of the Section.

    3. The Section may institute additional publications subject to the approval of the Members and in compliance with the By-Laws and American Anthropological Association policies.

    1. GAD committees and interest groups have the power to create their own publications, with the consent of the Board and in accordance with American Anthropological Association policies.

    2. General Anthropology shall be the official bulletin of the Section.

    3. Anthro-At-Large shall be the official publication of the Federation of Small Anthropology Programs (FOSAP).

    4. The Section may institute additional publications subject to the approval of the Members and in compliance with the By-Laws.

    1. These By-Laws may be amended by the Members by mail or electronic ballot, provided that a proposed amendment is approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast.

    2. Amendments may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by two (2) percent of the Members in good standing. The Board of Directors shall have the proposed amendment circulated to the Members and it shall allow thirty (30) days for the return of ballots.

    3. The amendments and provisions of these By-laws shall be effective immediately upon adoption and shall supersede and nullify all previous amendments and provisions.