Name: Blair Rose Zaid
Program: Anthropology
Specialization: Anthropology/Black Studies
Courses you are teaching this year:
ANTH 110 INTRO TO ANTH
ANTH 232 INTRO TO ARCH
ANTH 130 ANTH OF GREAT PLAINS
ANTH 362 PEOPLES AND CULTURES OF AFRICA
What is your favorite course to teach and why?
My favorite topic to teach right now is the relevance of the study of culture in the 21st century. No matter which course I teach or at what level my focus is on illustrating the real world effects of culture on our lives.
How and/or why did you choose this field?
I chose archaeology first because I love being outdoors and second since I focus on past African descendant communities I wanted a source of data that they themselves would have crafted with their own hands and experiences with the world around them.
What are you currently researching?
Currently I am researching historic African descendant communities in the Midwest and the Great Plains. I am interested in when and how these communities arrived and what did they contribute to the growth of the region.
What are some ways students can be involved in your research?
Students can participate by developing an inclusive mind frame about African descendants of the past as well as for these communities today. This kind of work is paramount for being an effective collaborator in my researcher.
Why should students major in your field?
Student should major in Anthropology because the basic skills of understanding culture, identifying cross-cultural encounters, valuing humanity in it's full variety translate into any profession they may find themselves in.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work (hobbies, other interests)?
My hobbies include camping, reading or listening to audiobooks, checking Instagram, and writing children's books about nature and being outdoors. If your looking for me I am either on a Zoom call or tending to my plants.