Undergrad Peer Advisor - Briana Evans
Briana came to Anthropology as a Biology major and hasn't looked back since. While she is still a pre-med student, Briana has enjoyed spending the last year exploring questions of health and sickness from the medical anthropology perspective. A registered EMT, she enjoys seeing these principles in action outside the classroom. Her fieldwork in Burkina Faso gave her another opportunity to see med anthro in action and has prepared her to write a thesis on noma, a neglected disease often seen in conjunction with malnutrition. Briana is thrilled to be a peer counselor this year. She remembers her own certainty--and later uncertainty--about her path at Stanford and is excited to help other students think through similar questions about their futures.
Degree Program: Anthropology BA
Area of Concentration: Medical Anthro
Graduation quarter & year: Spring 2013!
Thesis or other research project: My thesis work (thus far) centers on a disease called noma, which predominantly affects malnourished children. My interest began with the network of NGOs fighting noma in Burkina Faso and has expanded to the narrative of noma, a neglected disease whose story is often told through pictures.
Why Anthropology: It's fun! I started freshman year as a Bio major, certain of my path to medical school and beyond. When I came to Anthro, I found my classes more engaging and, despite the frequent questions about what exactly I would do with it after college, I knew it was a good fit. Still pre-med, I'm happy with my choice--this major has prepared me for both critical thinking and cultural adaptation in more ways and contexts than I could imagine before I began.
Favorite class / professor: So far, one of my favorites has been Culture, Minds, and Madness with Professor Luhrmann. The opportunity to explore mental health and also to engage with the mental health community through service showed me a new aspect of anthropology and its application.
Academic Interests / Career Goals: My academic interests are largely in the realm of public and international health. I'm headed to medical school soon; as of now, I would like to be a trauma surgeon.
Extracurricular / Hobbies: When I'm not interviewing or participant observing, I like rock-climbing, napping in the sun, and reading about medical mysteries.
