"Being a fresh member of the American Anthropological Association has allowed me to connect with fellow anthropologists studying Iranian culture. Through this network, I've fostered collaborative knowledge-sharing, creating a space to share my studies with a diverse community. The AAA platform has enriched my research, providing valuable insights and expanding.

I believe that the next generation of student anthropologists thrive on curiosity and cultural sensitivity, immersing in diverse experiences, active engagement with their local communities, and forging meaningful community connections. They explore varied subfields, utilizing technology for research and networking, actively contributing to anthropology's evolving dialogue."

"Lift anthropology up. It is a powerful discipline that has a strong footing in its own right and in interdisciplinary settings. Nothing occurs in a vacuum, as all human proceedings are touched by historical realities and institutional forces. Take this knowledge with you wherever you go. I am AAA."

“I am AAA because my 50 years of working to understand economic systems from the tribal to the industrial gave me the comparative vision to see that one of the keys to alternatives to industrial farming in Iowa is access to agricultural land for those who want to farm without crippling debt, that one of the remedies to our water pollution that is killing all life in the Gulf of Mexico is to farm sustainably and build our depleted soils, and that one way to improve our health is to make available healthy food. Anthropology shows us where problems are and ways we can work toward their solution. And it keeps us aware of our common humanity and that every person on this planet deserves one share of it. No more, no less.”

"Understanding maternal mortality requires working with and understanding history, communities, clinicians, governments, and pregnant women themselves; medical anthropology does just that. I am AAA because I have seen first-hand how medical anthropology can help save pregnant women's lives when clinicians alone cannot."

“I’m an anthropologist because I’m driven by persistent curiosity and longing to make sense of the different worlds I inhabit. I make ethnographic documentaries in places and communities where I grew up, and I feel a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility to capture and preserve snapshots of my interlocutors’ lives. It’s a privilege to be able to play this role of chronicler of stories, and to participate in the shared process of collective memory-making. Anthropology necessitates that we set aside our fears of the unknown and our ambivalence towards the other, letting our courage and faith in humanity guide our inquiry. Anthropology is not only a courageous science, but also a compassionate one. The job of an ethnographer is to elucidate what is previously hidden and do so in creative ways that promote empathy and understanding. I am AAA.”