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<\/figure>\nDear NAPA Members,<\/p>\n
This month, I traveled to Capitol Hill again to advocate for historic preservation and scientific funding within Congressional offices from Massachusetts and Delaware. Federal scientific agencies are experiencing steep cuts in their FY2027 budgets and among them are public foundations and services that support anthropological and archaeological research. More alarming, federal preservation law and regulatory processes are under attack. For over 60 years, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act has provided solid guardrails that protect historically significant buildings, places, and landscapes across the country. I was glad to make the case for more federal funding and more effective federal protections for research, communities, and historic resources we as practicing anthropologists hold dear. This is work I hope to continue as I transition to Past President of NAPA at the upcoming AAA Annual Meeting.<\/p>\n
As we prepare for St. Louis, I want to invite NAPA members to join us for a number of NAPA-sponsored sections, workshops, and events. On the Verge<\/em> runs November 18-22, 2026, and practicing anthropology will be a big part of the program. NAPA kicks off the conference with workshops on Wednesday, November 18 including:<\/p>\n Inclusive Culture Strategies (ICS) Micro-Certificate Program for Anthropologists at AAA<\/strong> Be on the lookout as NAPA posts more information about sponsored sessions and collaborations. Join us for two special events during the week:<\/p>\n NAPA Annual Business Meeting and Receptions Co-Hosted with the Society for Applied Anthropology, Thursday, November 19 from 8:00 PM-10:00 PM. We will transition to new leadership with President-Elect Suzette Chang stepping up and we will celebrate our volunteers, student essay contest winners, and partners with an annual awards presentation.<\/p>\n Then, on Friday, November 20 from 11:00 AM\u20134:00 PM, join us for the NAPA Careers Expo. Meet and talk with a host of Career Guides, who will be ready to take questions and connect on the many career pathways that practicing anthropology can take you. Students, early career professionals, and mid-career pivoters are welcome.<\/p>\n One more invitation to share. The Annals of Anthropological Practice<\/em>, NAPA\u2019s journal of 40+ years, will be sunsetting in 2027 as our section shifts to the new Anthropological Praxis<\/em> journal anticipated for 2028. The editorial team, including Editor Jonathan Maupin, is welcoming submissions for the remaining issues. If you have case studies, research, or reflections from your work in business, government, nonprofit, or community settings, I encourage you to share them with colleagues and the wider practicing field. Log into AnthroSource and navigate to our AAP page with Wiley Publishing to learn more about submitting a piece to the Annals<\/em>.<\/p>\n This is my final letter to you as NAPA president and I want to thank you for the honor of serving this community. I am grateful for the welcome and the support that NAPA and its many talented practitioners have shown me over the last two years. Thank you for trusting me with this role. I hope to see many of you in St. Louis and in the future as I continue to support NAPA.<\/p>\n With best wishes,<\/p>\n Suanna Selby Crowley link back to table of contents<\/a><\/p>\n Author: Joshua Liggett, MS, LSSBB, CPHQ<\/a><\/strong> Dear readers,<\/p>\n We have a more condensed issue this time, but packed with incredible perspectives, useful information, a call to action, and an ask to participate in the betterment of our association! Please join our efforts to transform the field of anthropology through our assessment of the AAA Annual Meeting\u2019s value for PPAs, in our committee work, and engaged citizenship! <\/p>\n We are actively recruiting for Member Engagement, Professional Development (Professional Standards, Workshops, etc.), Organizational Relations (Careers Expo, sNAPAshots), and Communications (Website, NAPA Notes, Social Media, etc.)! If you would like to join us in this work, let us know through our general volunteer application<\/a> and we will get you connected with your preferred committees. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n Happy Reading!<\/p>\n link back to table of contents<\/a><\/p>\n Author: <\/strong>Suzette V. Chang<\/a> One of my favorite reads is Mrs. Michelle Obama\u2019s book, Becoming 1<\/sup><\/sub>. Her stories are powerful and layered with perspective, nuanced understanding of speci\ufb01c chapters within her life; I hear her voice. As I read this book, it gave me an opportunity for re\ufb02ection and introspection, two forms of metacognition that I value and practice within my personal and professional life. This practice became more poignant when I accepted the role as President-Elect. And now I am preparing to become and serve as the next National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NAPA) President.<\/p>\n In the spirit of re\ufb02ection and introspection, I understand that NAPA stands at a critical juncture. Dr. Suanna Crowley, current NAPA President, has diplomatically served to create and sustain spaces that strengthen NAPA\u2019s purpose as the practicing arm of the American Anthropology Association (AAA). As a section of the AAA, NAPA has long been the premier professional home for applied, practicing, and professional anthropologists.<\/p>\n Let me be forthright by stating that I understand the rapidly changing landscape of the global workforce, advancements in digital technology, and the pressing need for anthropological insights in industry, governance, and non-pro\ufb01t sectors. This knowledge was clear for NAPA Presidents Dr. Crowley, and Dr. Rachel Hall-Clifford, Cathleen Crain and many others. Each leader understood and executed visionary approaches centered on strategic and collaborative investment. Each worked to align institutional resources, foster cross-sector partnerships, and invest deeply in the professional pipeline. With that said, it is my plan to further position NAPA as an indispensable catalyst for applied anthropological impact worldwide that leans into intellectual and digital capital that yields tangible value to practitioners that operate within academic and public spaces, offering high-impact outcomes for our members.<\/p>\n Yes, I know that I am stepping into some very big shoes and I thank the current and past NAPA Presidents for their leadership, blue-prints and service as I become the next NAPA President.<\/p>\n Becoming NAPA President is a commitment to amplifying the voices of practitioners on the global stage. By executing leadership that is anchored in strategic resource allocation and deep, collaborative partnerships, I plan to serve and assist NAPA into becoming a more agile, inclusive, and in\ufb02uential organization. Through these targeted investments, wisdom and knowledge of current and past leadership, and support from our membership, NAPA will continue to empower its members to design innovative, human-centered solutions for the world\u2019s most complex challenges. Thank you, Mrs. Obama, for indirect leadership and guidance to becoming.<\/p>\n 1 Obama, Michelle. Becoming. New York: Crown, 2018<\/p>\n link back to table of contents<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Check Out <\/strong>
This Offering<\/strong><\/h3>\n
(8:30 AM\u20135 PM)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
President<\/p>\nSenior Editor\u2019s Note<\/h2>\n
NAPA Communications Committee Co-Chair<\/p>\nBecoming \u2013 NAPA Presidency & Service<\/strong><\/h2>\n
NAPA President Elect<\/p>\n
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