American Anthropological Association

American Anthropological Association Founded in 1902, the American Anthropological Association is the world's largest organization of anthropologists. Become an AAA member today.

Join our community of anthropologists and culture enthusiasts. The American Anthropological Association is the world’s largest association for professional anthropologists, with more than 10,000 members. Based in Washington, DC, the Association was founded in 1902, and covers all four main fields of anthropology (cultural anthropology, biological/physical anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics

). While 75% of our members are employed in higher education or are students of anthropology, about 25% of our members work in the public, private, and non-governmental sectors, beyond the academy. The Association is organized into 40 sections, each reflecting specialized domains of knowledge. We publish a portfolio of 22 journals, offer career planning and professional development services, support college and university departments, award numerous prizes and fellowships, sponsor a paid summer internship program, a summer field school in ethnography and occupational therapy, and stage research conferences in the Fall and Spring each year. We also have a public education initiative that highlights the contributions made by anthropological research to important and enduring topics such as race and migration. The Association is proud to belong to a number of inter-organizational collaborations, including the World Council of Anthropological Associations, the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, the Consortium of Social Science Associations, the National Humanities Alliance, and the American Council of Learned Societies.

Member Spotlight: Sahana KuttuvaInspired by her Sourashtra heritage and its long history of migration, Sahana’s interest...
06/16/2026

Member Spotlight: Sahana Kuttuva

Inspired by her Sourashtra heritage and its long history of migration, Sahana’s interest in anthropology began with questions about culture, identity, and human movement. As a high school student and AAA member, she is already exploring how anthropological perspectives can help us better understand the social and economic dimensions of migration.

Through her research and curiosity, Sahana represents the next generation of anthropologists using interdisciplinary approaches to connect personal histories with broader global systems.

🌍 Interested in being featured? Share your story with us at https://americananthro.org/membership/your-story/

Join us tomorrow at 2 PM ET.
06/15/2026

Join us tomorrow at 2 PM ET.

Anthropology departments are navigating real pressure, declining enrollments, tightening budgets, faculty burnout, and big questions about AI. You're not alone, and new research shows what peers across the humanities are doing about it.

Join us June 16 at 2:00 PM ET for a free to members webinar with Dr. Claire Baytas and Dr. Chelsea McCracken of Ithaka S+R, authors of Academic Humanities Today: Opportunities & Challenges.

The session includes a 30-minute presentation followed by open Q&A. Submit your questions during registration.

Free for active AAA members, $25 for non-members.

Learn more and register at: https://americananthro.org/event/the-future-of-anthropology-departments-enrollment-ai-building-sustainability/

AAA membership bestows a lot of benefits: access to leading journals and research, career resources, networking opportun...
06/15/2026

AAA membership bestows a lot of benefits: access to leading journals and research, career resources, networking opportunities, section communities, job boards, and more. But the greatest benefit of all is community.

The Annual Meeting brings that community to life. It’s where ideas are exchanged, collaborations begin, friendships form, and anthropologists from around the world come together to learn from one another.

Join us this year in St. Louis and experience the connections, conversations, and memories that make AAA membership so meaningful.

🔗 Join our community at https://my.americananthro.org/NC__Login?startURL=%2Fjoinrenew%3F

AAA President Carolyn Rouse didn't hold back in responding to the recently released Vanderbilt/WashU "State of Scholarsh...
06/12/2026

AAA President Carolyn Rouse didn't hold back in responding to the recently released Vanderbilt/WashU "State of Scholarship" report, a commission-authored document that singles out anthropology and other humanities disciplines, arguing their scholarship has been compromised by political ideology.

"I've heard words like 'unhinged'" to describe the report, she told Inside Higher Ed. "It's so badly done—I kept wanting to do 'track changes' in it, as if I were grading it like a paper—and yet it has all of this power because of who these [authors] are."

The stakes are real. For administrators already skeptical of the humanities, Rouse warns: "This is just confirmation that they were right, and they will close their anthropology departments."

AAA has been actively working with departments to make the case for anthropology, helping programs articulate its value for students pursuing medicine, law, and beyond. We will continue expanding our efforts to support, defend, and promote our field.

Read Carolyn's full response in Inside Higher Ed at https://bit.ly/3RWmvK3

Strong anthropology departments build strong futures for the discipline.AAA’s Departmental Services Program (DSP) suppor...
06/10/2026

Strong anthropology departments build strong futures for the discipline.

AAA’s Departmental Services Program (DSP) supports anthropology departments and programs with resources designed to strengthen recruitment, advocacy, curriculum development, student engagement, and departmental visibility.

Whether navigating institutional challenges or building new opportunities for growth, DSP helps departments stay connected to a broader network of support across the field.

🔗 Learn more about the Departmental Services Program at https://americananthro.org/membership/department-services-program/

06/09/2026

At the 2025 AAA Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Raul found more than just panels and presentations—he found community.

By connecting with anthropologists from across backgrounds, interests, and career stages, Raul left the meeting feeling inspired and hopeful about the future of the field and his place within it.

Moments like these remind us why gathering together matters. Anthropology is strongest when we learn from and support one another.

🌍 Join us at the next AAA Annual Meeting and become part of the conversation.

Learn more at http://annualmeeting.americananthro.org/register/

🗳️ Your vote helps shape the future of AAA.Eligible AAA members now have the opportunity to vote for candidates for the ...
06/08/2026

🗳️ Your vote helps shape the future of AAA.

Eligible AAA members now have the opportunity to vote for candidates for the Executive Board, Nominations Committee, and section leadership positions. These elections play an important role in ensuring the Association remains representative, forward-thinking, and responsive to our diverse anthropology community.

Every vote helps guide the future of AAA and the discipline as a whole, but don't wait, voting closes this Wednesday, June 10!

🔗 Eligible members are encouraged to participate and cast their ballots at https://americananthro.secure-platform.com/elections

📣 Nominations are now open for the AAA Gender Justice Prize.This prize recognizes scholarship, advocacy, practice, and p...
06/05/2026

📣 Nominations are now open for the AAA Gender Justice Prize.

This prize recognizes scholarship, advocacy, practice, and public engagement that advances understanding of gender inequities and helps build more just and inclusive communities. Open to anthropologists across all subfields and career stages, the award embraces a broad and inclusive understanding of gender and celebrates impactful work from the past three years.

The recipient will receive a $1,000 cash prize and be honored at the AAA Annual Meeting.

🗓️ Submissions are open until June 17.
🔗 Learn more and submit a nomination at https://americananthro.org/prizes-and-awards/gender-justice-prize/

Anthropology departments are navigating real pressure, declining enrollments, tightening budgets, faculty burnout, and b...
06/04/2026

Anthropology departments are navigating real pressure, declining enrollments, tightening budgets, faculty burnout, and big questions about AI. You're not alone, and new research shows what peers across the humanities are doing about it.

Join us June 16 at 2:00 PM ET for a free to members webinar with Dr. Claire Baytas and Dr. Chelsea McCracken of Ithaka S+R, authors of Academic Humanities Today: Opportunities & Challenges.

The session includes a 30-minute presentation followed by open Q&A. Submit your questions during registration.

Free for active AAA members, $25 for non-members.

Learn more and register at: https://americananthro.org/event/the-future-of-anthropology-departments-enrollment-ai-building-sustainability/

Address

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22201

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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