About COPAA
COPAA is nationwide consortium of university departments and programs that provide education in practicing and applied anthropology.
Our mission is to collectively advance the education and training of students, faculty, and practitioners in applied anthropology.
Contact Information
Linda A. Bennett, ChairProfessor of Anthropology and Associate Dean
107 Scates Hall
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN 38152
(901) 678-3371
Officers (2006-2007)
- Chair: Linda Bennett (University of Memphis)
- Secretary: Kerry Feldman (University of Alaska, Anchorage)
- Co-Treasurers: Gina Sanchez Gibau and Jeanette Dickerson Putman (both, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis)
- Webmaster: Christina Wasson (University of North Texas)
- Virtual Community Moderator: Sunil Khanna (Oregon State University)
Benefits of Departmental Membership
- Inclusion in the COPAA website’s list of programs in applied anthropology
- Inclusion in other COPAA publications and promotional materials
- Participation in planning COPAA sponsored sessions
- Involvement in setting and implementing COPAA initiatives
- Invitation to the annual meetings of the consortium and all consortium-sponsored activities
- Ability to draw on the resources and expertise of the consortium for departmental program needs
Obligations of Departmental Membership
- Pay annual dues of $100 (used primarily to support the development and maintenance of the website)
- Send a representative from the department to the annual COPAA meeting
- Participate in activities of the consortium that help to promote its mission behalf of departmental members
How to Join
New departmental members are considered at the time of the annual COPAA meeting, held at the Society for Applied Anthropology conference. Departments may request membership by contacting the chair of COPAA, or consortium members may independently recommend that other departments be invited to join.
Annual Meetings
- March 2007, Tampa
- March 2006, Vancouver
- April 2005, Santa Fe
- March 2004, Dallas (hosted by University of North Texas)
March 2003, Portland - March 2002, Atlanta
- February 2001, Tampa (hosted by University of South Florida) and April 2001, Merida
- Founding meeting: February 2000, Memphis (hosted by University of Memphis)
Historical Archives
- Complete List of COPAA Sessions and Presentations
- Minutes of the Annual COPAA Meetings
Report on COPAA Website
In 2004-2005, Christina Wasson led a research project to inform the design of the COPAA website. We interviewed members of the three groups COPAA serves – faculty in applied anthropology programs, students, and practitioners – to explore ways that COPAA might be useful to them in accordance with its mission to advance education and training. Our findings provided insights not just for the website, but for the future direction of COPAA. You can download the report here.
