Former Committee on Practicing, Applied and Public Interest Anthropology (CoPAPIA)

The Committee on Practicing, Applied and Public Interest Anthropology was established to explore and engage the range of issues emerging as a result of the increasing number of anthropologists in and outside the academy doing practicing, applied and public interest work. The responsibilities of the Committee range from establishing liaisons with appropriate Sections to help serve the interest of practicing, applied and public anthropology, to developing recommendations for training and professional development.

In July 2004, the Executive Board of the American Anthropological Association appointed a Practicing Advisory Work Group (PAWG) to advise the Executive Board on how the Association might better serve the needs of anthropologists working outside of academia and their employers. The Group was appointed with a term to end in July 2007. Based upon the findings of PAWG and its recommendations submitted to the Executive Board in November 2006, it is now proposed that the Executive Board establish a standing committee in order to address the relationship of the Practicing, Applied and Public Sector Anthropologists to the AAA and anthropology--on a continuing basis—and the needs of the large and increasing numbers of these anthropologists. This standing committee will work collaboratively with the Executive Board, the Sections of the AAA, and AAA staff.

Objectives

To explore and engage the range of issues that have emerged or are emerging as a result of the increasing employment of anthropologists outside of the academy doing work as practicing anthropologists, applied anthropologist and anthropologists in the public sector.

Duration of Committee

Combined with other AAA programmatic committees to form the Members’ Programmatic, Advisory and Advocacy Committee (MPAAC) following the 2017 AAA Annual Meeting. 

Committee Reports to

The Executive Board

Responsibilities

• Foster the scholarship of practitioners, applied anthropologists and anthropologist in the public sector and strengthen the dialogue between theory and practice.
• Establish liaisons with appropriate Sections to help serve the interests of practicing anthropologists, applied anthropologist, and anthropologist in the public sector. Diffuse information about practicing, applied anthropologists, and anthropology in the public sector at AAA meetings, in AAA publications, on the AAA website, in Section newsletters, and other media.
• Help develop recommendations for training practitioner, applied anthropologists, and anthropologists in the public sector.
• Collaborate with a range of AAA Sections to encourage and develop sessions to increase the participation of practitioners, practicing and anthropologists in the public sector in AAA meetings.
• Determine skills and training needed for practitioner, applied anthropologists, and anthropologists in the public sector and provide feedback to academic programs. .
• Advise staff and Board in the development of specific benefits that will attract greater numbers of practicing, applied anthropologists and anthropologists in the public sector to join the Association.

Membership and Appointment

• Seven members including a student member plus a chair.
• Three year terms.
• Chair elected from within the Committee.
• Committee members appointed by the AAA President with a view toward broad representation from AAA Sections having significant interest in practicing anthropology and having a substantial practitioner membership, with at least one member to be recommended by NAPA.
• AAA President and President-elect serve as ex-officio members.

Staff Liaison

Daniel Ginsberg, Professional Fellow, American Anthropological Association.