Anthropology Advocacy Council (AAC)

Anthropology Advocacy Council Charter

Mission

The Anthropology Advocacy Council (AAC) exists to advocate for AAA members
internally, within the AAA, and externally, to advance the discipline through
dissemination, application, and protection of anthropological knowledge. The specific
foci for the AAC may include the following:

  • Work with AAA members who want to effect change within or through the AAA.
  • Develop best practices and provide ethical guidance and advocacy for
    anthropologists navigating complex research, teaching, and practice
    environments.
  • Defend anthropology against threats to academic freedom, funding cuts, job
    precarity, and restrictions on scholarly work.
  • Engage in public policy work when it impacts anthropologists or the practice of
    anthropology to protect the discipline.
  • Advocate for anthropology and ensure anthropological contributions are
    recognized and valued across all sectors where anthropologists work.
  • Develop advocacy strategies to support anthropologists in academic settings,
    ensuring the discipline of anthropology remains a priority in higher education
    institutions.
  • Align with sister organizations to ensure anthropology is effectively
    communicated and applied in ways that influence public discourse, policy, and
    interdisciplinary collaborations.
  • Strengthen anthropology’s presence within the broader humanities and social
    sciences by advocating for funding and policy initiatives that benefit
    anthropologists and leveraging partnerships with other learned societies to
    advance shared advocacy goals.
  • Support anthropologists living and working all around the world by advocating for
    policies, practices, and collaborations that promote a more equitable politics of
    knowledge production among anthropologists globally.

The choice of foci and related project(s) will be determined by the AAC members on an
ongoing basis and in consultation with the AAA Executive Board and Executive Director.
The AAA ED will assign AAA staff member(s) to help with meetings, communications,
and, if required, implementation.

Staff Liaisons and Contact Information

Leadership

Sub-Chairs

AAC Members

* For AAA members with an interest in advocating for anthropology and anthropologists, we encourage you to consider joining the AAC. Contact Jeff Martin at gro.orhtnanacirema@nitramj

Date Created or Revised

December 4, 2025