High school students from the Minority Student Achievement Network (MSAN) recently got a behind-the-scenes look at Michigan State University’s Forensic Anthropology Lab (MSUFAL).
In November, these students spent the day on campus meeting MSU students and faculty while exploring labs.
Dr. Carolyn Isaac, assistant professor of anthropology and director of MSUFAL, shared how impactful it was to witness the interactions between anthropology graduate students and high school students as they explored the unique findings revealed from studying a person’s skeleton.
“The passion with which the graduate students discussed the wonders of the bones and the look of amazement in the high school students’ eyes was inspiring to see,” she said. “As we were wrapping up, I heard a number of the MSAN students saying that this was the coolest thing ever, which made me very proud.”
MSAN is a national organization of diverse school districts focused on improving access, opportunity, and success for students of color. Since 1999, MSAN has worked to eliminate disparities and help all students reach their full potential. This year the 2024 MSAN Student Conference was hosted by East Lansing High School.
Isaac emphasized the importance of outreach activities, explaining that they give students a chance to explore new disciplines while addressing gaps in information about educational pathways and career opportunities.
“As the group departed, one of the chaperones—a high school counselor—shared his gratitude, admitting that he often steered students away from anthropology simply because he wasn’t familiar with the career paths available in the field,” Isaac said. “Unsurprisingly, many of the students were equally unaware of forensic anthropology and the diverse opportunities it offers.”
MSUFAL is actively working to increase diversity among students and professionals in forensic anthropology.
“Connecting with the students of the MSAN provided an incredible opportunity to inspire and attract the next generation of talent to our field,” she said.