Undergraduate Research

Congratulations to the September Undergraduate Researcher of the Month, Susie Mabry!  

Susie Mabry is a junior majoring in international studies with a minor in political science. Currently, Susie works with Dr. Anne Pfister, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work (SASW), who specializes in medical and socio-linguistic anthropology research. This past summer, Susie received a SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship) award from the College of Arts and Sciences to support her research with Dr. Pfister, which involved investigating the relationship between humans and insects through the lens of local and indigenous people in Oaxaca, Mexico, which they did through the making of a short ethnographic film. Susie recently presented their findings in poster format at UNF's annual summer student research symposium, ARISE (Advancements in Research, Inquiry, and Scholarship Exhibition) this past July, and she also plans to present their footage at both the 2024 Florida Digital Humanities (FLDH) Conference and the 2024 American Anthropological Association (AA) Annual Meeting this fall. Additionally, Susie and Dr. Pfister plan to publish their work in an upcoming volume of Teaching and Learning Anthropology, and PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas, which showcases outstanding student work at UNF. When reflecting on her favorite part of her research experiences, Susie particularly enjoys building relationships with her film subjects and “expanding [her] toolkit as a documentarian by learning and incorporating ethnographic techniques.” Through her work with Dr. Pfister, she has also appreciated being able to “demonstrate and deepen [her] values as a storyteller [by] seeking to elevate indigenous knowledge and advocate for a sustainable future.” After she graduates this fall, Susie plans to attend graduate school for a degree in either public policy or documentary production.