BA in Anthropology

Emily Mann, 2013

Emily chose the challenging curriculum of the Honors College. Always taking a proactive role in her education, when she was frustrated with a large lecture class, she organized with the instructor a small discussion group for students who wanted an opportunity to explore the subject matter in more depth. The instructor Jeffrey Mantz says, "This is just one of the many ways in which Ms. Mann has demonstrated the qualities of a leader."

Emily thought that her experience as "a privileged ... university student" limited her perspective. She spent the fall of her second year teaching ESL in a primary school in Tanzania. She helped raise money for a school kitchen. In summer 2012, with an NSF grant, she returned to Tanzania to conduct research. She is continuing this project under the auspices of the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program.

She served as vice president of the Mason Fair Drug Policy Project and is co-president of the Mason chapter of Active Minds, an organization dedicated to raising mental health awareness on college campuses. Dr. Burr, co-advisor to Active Minds and dean of the Honors Collge notes, "...[Emily is] an exceptional collaborator--already demonstrating the interpersonal intelligence and communication skills that make her effective in dealing with conflict."

In recognition of her accomplishments, Emily was awarded the Dean's Challenge Scholarship for 2012-2013.