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Angela M. Harrison-Urlacher

Biography

Angela Harrison, 24, a single mother from a small town in Wyoming who explored new horizons as an anthropology student, hopes to conduct research to help achieve the goals of international humanitarian organizations. At first, Angela wanted to combine her musical talent as a flutist and pianist with occupational therapy for children with disabilities. She had worked for six years with disabled children in summer camps. But an anthropology course changed her career plans. Ms. Harrison graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Dakota with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She intends to seek a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology at the University of Michigan.

Angela's early ambition was to use her musical talent along with occupational therapy to help children with disabilities. She had plenty of experience after working for six summers at Camp Courage, a place where disabled children were enrolled. "We adapted traditional camp activities, such as hiking, swimming, and sports, to fit the needs of every child," she recalls. "The children's joy, every smile and giggle, impressed and inspired me." But her career plan changed when she took a college course in cultural anthropology and became intrigued by the diversity of cultures in the world. She began to realize that she could use her skills with the flute and piano to advance her new passion.

Ms. Harrison volunteered to join a field study in Malawi and found joy in her relations with children there. "I cherish the children's giggles as we danced down dirt roads singing zaki donki de, their laughter as I taught them the 'Hokey Pokey' and their curiosity in seeing me transcribe their songs into musical notations," she says. Her romantic notion of anthropology, however, was challenged by a short-lived marriage to Nuer, a refugee from southern Sudan, and the father of her child, Jak. "We were naïve in not understanding the deeper complexities of our cultural differences," she admits. But this disappointment did not affect Angela's academic work. She earned a perfect 4.0 GPA, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in her junior year, and graduated summa cum laude. She also won a concerto competition and a writing scholarship.

Angela's academic success as a single mother encouraged her to seek a doctorate in cultural anthropology at the University of Michigan and eventually become a college professor in her discipline. She hopes to conduct research in ways that will help international humanitarian organizations deal with problems such as HIV/AIDS, public health, gender roles, human rights, and acculturation barriers. She looks forward to the challenge: "My career will allow me to contribute to global discourses to effect change beyond the ivy towers."

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