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Clubs and Societies
Western Anthropology Outreach (WAO) Team
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Dima Kassem (She/her): Hi everyone, I’m Dima, a third-year Sociocultural Ph.D candidate. My research focuses on people living with a rare disease (PLWRD) and their social support networks, the experiences they have within healthcare systems, and their transition from pediatric to adult care. I explore how social support networks shape the transition from pediatric to adult care, how health journeys unfold across space and relationships, and how these dynamics affect long-term outcomes and perceptions of healthcare systems. In my free time, I love to cook and bake, read, knit/crochet, go on walks, and play various sports. I joined Outreach because I’m passionate about being a part of a committee that will teach students about what anthropology truly is before they enter university and allow them to experience hands-on learning from all four branches of anthropology. |
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Chloe Vincente-Sarmento (She/Her): Hi everyone! I’m Chloe, a second-year M.A. student in the Biological Anthropology and Archaeology stream. My research focuses on gender in Andean mummy bundles, specifically how burial practices on Peru’s Central Coast can challenge Western binary ideas about gender. By using non-destructive methods like CT scans and X-rays, I study how artifacts and bundle preparation reflect identity, status, and ritual roles in ancient societies. In my free time, I love to watch movies and shows, read, and spend time with friends and family. I joined Outreach because I wanted to be more involved with the community, both within the department and outside of academia. For me, Outreach is a way to share what anthropology really is, encourage more people to get involved, and build skills that go beyond research. |
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TEAM LEADERMaris Schneider (She/her): Hi! I’m a second-year bioarchaeology PhD student, studying the effects of prolonged childhood malnutrition on skeletal development. I have a passion for integrating the biological sciences with the social sciences to gain a holistic understanding of how culture influences biological changes and vice versa. In my free time, I enjoy reading, watching movies, baking, playing beach volleyball and golfing. As the Educational Coordinator, I aim to ensure that all individuals have access to high-quality learning opportunities beyond traditional classrooms. I am open to working with any age group to develop new educational experiences that are fun and engaging! |
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TEAM MEMBERMalaika Lab Din (She/her): Hi, I am Malaika and I am a second-year undergraduate at Western University pursuing an Honours Specialization in Biology with a Minor in Anthropology. My research interests are in the intersection of biology and culture, particularly how conditions such as insomnia and hypersomnia affect not only health, but also personal and social life. To gain experience in anthropology beyond the classroom, I joined the outreach team, where I explore its connections with education and community engagement. Alongside my studies, I enjoy writing, reading, calligraphy, and baking, which allow me to balance research with creativity. |
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TEAM MEMBERElla Whitehead (She/They): Hi everyone! My name is Ella and I am a fourth year undergraduate student in the biological anthropology and archaeology stream. I joined outreach to not only become involved in the school community but also to spread my passion for anthropology and archaeology, just as others have done for me. My primary interest lay in osteology and prehistory, and I hope to further this interest with grad school in my near future! In my free time I enjoy going on hikes and playing with my cats, if I am not doing that I am most likely catching up on reality tv! |
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TEAM MEMBERKyara Vizcaino (She/her): Hi everyone! My name is Kyara and I am a fourth year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology at King’s and Anthropology here at Main. My main interests are in biological anthropology and bioarchaeology, specifically osteology and paleopathology. This past summer, I completed a USRI (Undergraduate Summer Research Internship), analyzing the department’s skeletal teaching collection, under the supervision of Dr. Waters-Rist. I joined Outreach to spread the word about the diversity of our field and all the amazing things anthropology can accomplish. In my free time, I’m usually baking while listening to all my favourite music, or cuddled up on the couch with my dog and a good book! |
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TEAM MEMBERMeagan Hardy (She/Her): HI! My name is Meagan and I am a fourth year undergraduate student with a major in anthropology. I love studying human evolution, past human species, and what it is that differentiates humans from other animals. I joined outreach because I love to talk about anthropology and share it with others. Outside of school I love cooking, camping, pilates, iced coffee, & music! |
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TEAM LEADERHanne Andersen (She/Her): Hi Everyone! I am a second-year master’s student in Archaeology and Biological Anthropology. My research focuses on the burial treatments of nonadult (child) mummies from ancient Peru. I seek to better understand the social significance and roles of children in ancient Peru by distinguishing age-related variability in burial treatment. I have loved bioarchaeology and mummy studies since I was a little kid, and joined outreach to share my passion with others and provide similar opportunities that were offered to me to the community. I hope that our outreach efforts will increase awareness and interest in anthropology and provide meaningful engagement with the community. |
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TEAM LEADERRashin Mosallai (She/They): Hello! I’m Rashin, entering my fourth year in Honours Specialization in Anthropology with a specific interest in anything archaeology, especially when it works closely with the community, and you can develop connections with the very people you’re involved with. I spent this summer studying under Dr. Markert in Texas, where I got to see firsthand these close inter-personal connections. I joined Outreach to give back to the community, educate others about what it means to be part of Anthropology, and create an accessible and fun environment for learning. I have a massive green thumb and creative mind, so in my free time, I spend it gardening and tattooing. |
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TEAM MEMBERRouda Ramzi (She/Her): Hello! I’m Rouda, I’m doing my fourth year in Honours Specialization in History, and a minor in Anthropology with an interest in archaeology. The last two summers I spent in Texas surveying historic homes and engaging with the community under the supervision of Dr. Markert. I joined Outreach as a way to interact with like-minded people and teach others about something that I’m passionate about. In my free time I like to read, listen to music, do digital art, and learn all that I can about blueberries and orcas! |
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TEAM MEMBERKate Hamers (She/Her): Hi! I’m Kate, a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a double major in Archaeology and Biological Anthropology, as well as Classical Studies. I joined outreach because when I first started looking into universities, I didn’t know much about what anthropology was. Now that it’s become such an important part of my life, I want to share my passion for it with others. In my free time, I enjoy crocheting, going to the gym, playing guitar, and reading. I also love collecting things, such as trinkets, plants, vinyls, or CDs, and I love spending time outdoors. |
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TEAM MEMBERCyrena Hill (She/Her): Hello! My name is Cyrena Hill, and I am a second-year undergrad pursuing an honors specialization in Anthropology with a minor in Indigenous studies. My interests lean towards Archaeology and Biological Anthropology. I’m fascinated by how studying past cultures can help us better understand contemporary human experiences. I joined outreach to share my love of Anthropology and to highlight the ways the discipline can connect with everyday life. Outside of school I love anyway to get outside, especially cycling and hiking. |
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TEAM MEMBERBryn James-Cavan (They/them): Hey! I’m a master’s student in sociocultural anthropology. My research focuses on the history of institutionalization of people with intellectual disabilities. I joined outreach because I believe it’s important to make anthropological knowledge available to people outside of academia and WAO does that in a very hands on way. In my free time, I love to crochet and play video games. |
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TEAM LEADERMaddie Hertz (She/her): Hi everyone! I’m a third year bioarchaeology PhD student. My PhD research focuses on the effects of aging on women that regularly swim or run. Not only are women less represented in this type of research, but this is a key window in aging, as it is when bone loss begins to speed up and osteoporosis (which is especially prevalent in women) begins to set in. In my free time, I like to hike, play video games or board games, and go birdwatching. I’m excited about connecting with my community and working to provide experience-based anthropology opportunities and resources to more people. |
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TEAM MEMBERCatherine Foo (She/Her): Hi everyone! I’m Catherine, a third-year Media and Communication Studies student with a minor in Environment and Culture. My academic interests focus on the environmental impacts of mass consumption and how culture influences the way we understand and respond to these issues. Outside of my studies, I love watching movies of just about any genre and reading (mostly bad) movie reviews. I joined Outreach because I think there’s often confusion about what anthropology really is and how relevant it can be to our everyday lives. I believe Outreach helps bridge this gap by making the field more approachable overall. |
