Pentecostals deeply value the changes their new faith facilitated in their personal life, says John Burdick, professor of anthropology. They are primarily focused on personal salvation and disinclined to embrace political movements advocating radical change.

Mona Bhan, associate professor of anthropology and Ford-Maxwell Professor of South Asian Studies, says that the resistance to India's revocation of Articles 370 and 35A "depends of course on this massive military influx of the Indian forces into Kashmir territory and how that's going to pen out, how people are going to be able to navigate this new terrain of intense militarization."

Theoretical Archaeology Group, an annual conference, held its event at Syracuse University, drawing double the expected attendance and an array of artists who responded to the conference's call for artwork. The theme of this year's TAG was "Slow Archaeology," which highlights the importance of long-term commitments to projects, relationships with descendants and other stakeholders, and collaboration.

“One fear of launching the program online was that students may not feel the same deep connection to their peers and faculty and the Maxwell community, so we were pleasantly surprised by the turnout for graduation on campus and will be working on planning a reunion soon,” said Nell Bartkowiak, director of the E.M.P.A. program. 

Deborah Pellow, professor of anthropology, who is a multidisciplinary scholar that specializes in urban studies, the anthropology of space and place, and feminism, with emphasis on West Africa, was conferred this year's prize. The prize memorializes William Wasserstrom, a noted English professor at Syracuse.

The exhibit titled "From Gods to Social Justice," was curated by Susan S. Wadley, Ford-Maxwell Professor of South Asian Studies. Wadley is retiring at the end of May and this is one of her final contributions to Maxwell's community engagement.

Hans Buechler, professor of anthropology was honored at the One University Awards ceremony, held on April 12.

“The Ray Smith Symposium moves to connect the University with the broader campus community by involving a cross-section of Syracuse faculty,” says Susan S. Wadley, Ford-Maxwell Professor of South Asian Studies, and a veteran anthropologist. “It’s the public humanities at its best.”

Theresa Singleton, professor of anthropology, says the discovery of a woman's DNA in Belvoir matching with people living in Sierra Leone today holds "great promise" for future research—but the cost of DNA analysis may put it out of reach for some archaeologists.

"The idea that the Portuguese have never been in Africa is completely false," says Christopher DeCorse, professor of anthropology. "In fact, it was the Portuguese who opened Africa to the Atlantic world."