Anthropology donations will be matched 1:1 up to $5,500, thanks to the generosity of Professor Emeritus Conrad Kottak, alumna Julie Stroh, and an anonymous donor!

ANTHROPOLOGY STRATEGIC FUND - 308085

Gifts to the Department of Anthropology will fund student-led peer support organizations AUGMENT and MISAA, enabling mentorship, microgrants, and more.

AUGMENT (the Anthropology Undergraduate-Graduate Mentoring Program) matches undergraduate students interested in anthropology with graduate student mentors to help navigate the department and broader university. Mentors help mentees find research opportunities and graduate programs, improve their writing skills, and further their interests within and beyond academia. AUGMENT offers workshops like “How to Craft a CV” and “How to Read an Academic Paper,” and provides microgrants for costs not covered by traditional grant funding.

MISAA (the Michigan International Student Anthropology Association) provides a welcoming community for international graduate students, who often face challenges acclimating to life in the U.S. MISAA offers guidance and support, and helps mobilize resources to address common hurdles and unforeseen emergencies. MISAA has produced informative guides like “Applying to U-M” and “The First Two Weeks,” and hosts social events and professional development workshops. MISAA also provides microgrants to cover costs associated with those first days in a new country (airport transportation, groceries, etc.).

“Transferring to Michigan has been a big adjustment, but my mentors at AUGMENT have supported me every step of the way. From going over homework assignments with me to make them more manageable to guiding me through internship applications, my mentors have assisted me in staying on track with my academic goals.”

— Tyler Russell, AUGMENT mentee

“... As an international student, it is hard to explain my experiences and struggles navigating this system, but all my friends in MISAA made me feel at home every time we spent time together. … MISAA had a big impact in my first semester in many ways, but above all, they constantly reminded me that I will never be alone here.”

— Stefania Becerra Lavado, MISAA member