Binghamton University Anthropology Department selected for national career readiness initiative

Binghamton University’s Anthropology Department has been selected to participate in the Departmental Advisory Initiative (DAI), a national program of the Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN), designed to prepare undergraduate minors, majors, and graduate students of anthropology for careers beyond academia. 

Launched by ACRN in 2021, the DAI builds departmental capacity around core elements of anthropological practice, emphasizing problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and professional networking as part of a Career Ready Curriculum. Binghamton joins a growing list of institutions nationwide that have undertaken the initiative, including large public universities such as Texas A&M and Oregon State, private universities such as Tulane and the University of Denver, and smaller institutions such as Bates and Rhode Island College. 

“This partnership is about clarity as much as opportunity. We want our majors and graduate students to be able to name the specific skills their anthropology training gives them, and walk into the job market confident about the career pathways ahead of them,” explained Department Chair Rolf Quam. “It's part of our broader work to keep the department at the cutting edge of the discipline — and to show how anthropology's relevance today shows up in all kinds of settings, from public health to business to policy.”

Binghamton’s goal is to create a department-wide implementation plan to improve career readiness and facilitate post-graduation career pathways. Participation includes:

• A working group consisting of Quam and faculty members Sébastien Lacombe, BrieAnna Langlie, Joshuah Reno, Deborah Schechter, Laure Spake, and Katherine Wander, as well as Aly Novi from the Fleishman Center. They will work closely with ACRN facilitators throughout the process.
• A three-day, on-campus visit by two trained ACRN facilitators, who will lead a series of presentations, brainstorming sessions, and a design workshop to identify key goals and objectives of a customized career-readiness plan for Binghamton anthropology students and build a broad consensus on next steps.
• Approximately 15 months of implementation support after the plan is finalized. Department members will meet quarterly with the ACRN facilitators to review their progress and address any obstacles.

Throughout the DAI, Binghamton anticipates strengthening the connection between its anthropology curriculum and essential workplace skills, sharpening students’ career focus, deepening connections with anthropology alumni, and raising the Anthropology Department’s visibility with its administration, prospective students, and community partners. 

“Departments that engage with the Departmental Advisory Initiative are investing directly in their students’ futures,” said ACRN founder Elizabeth Briody. “Working side by side with faculty, staff, and administrators, ACRN helps bridge the gap between academia and the workplace by integrating real-world skills and problem-solving into coursework. Having a clear, actionable plan for career readiness gives Binghamton students a roadmap for the future.”