Cynthia Grace-McCaskey    Cynthia Grace-McCaskey

PhD, University of South Florida, 2012
Office: 211 Flanagan Building
Telephone: 252-328-9443
E-mail: gracemccaskeyc15@ecu.edu

Research website: http://cynthiagracemccaskey.com 

About Me

I am a cultural anthropologist with a focus on applied environmental anthropology.  I hold a joint position between the Department of Anthropology and the Institute for Coastal Science and Policy (ICSP).  I received a M.A. in Marine Affairs and Policy from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Research at the University of Miami in 2006, and a Ph.D. in Applied Anthropology from the University of South Florida in 2012.  My research interests include political ecology, marine resource management, traditional ecological knowledge, social-ecological systems, and cooperative resource management and institutions.

My dissertation research included extensive ethnographic fieldwork utilizing a political ecology approach to examine the participation of marine resource users in fisheries management in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.  After completing my dissertation fieldwork, I moved to Hawaii to conduct applied research for NOAA Fisheries and the University of Hawaii.  During my five years in that position, I worked with fishing communities throughout the U.S. Western Pacific region, including Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  I joined the Department of Anthropology and ICSP faculty in January 2016, and am eager to continue examining marine resource management issues in the Caribbean, Western Pacific, and locally in North Carolina.
 

Department News

2017 GA positions in Environmental Anthropology

There are a few GA positions available next year looking at enviro anth and climate change issues. If you are interested as an incoming grad student, See for more information.

Dr. Ewen featured speaker at HCAS alumni reception

 Dr. Ewen will be the featured speaker at the HCAS reception. See flyer for details

Anthropology Internship Opportunities
Gain valuable experience while earning school credit! There are numerous anthropology internship opportunities available to undergraduate and graduate students. Students can attain school credit through two undergraduate internship courses, ANTH 4990 and 4991. To see all the possibilities and learn more, click here.
Anth student Wins ECU Photo Contest!
Kristalyn Gill was named winner of the 2015 ECU Study Abroad Photo Contest. Check out the photo of Kristalyn on Mt. Huascaran in Peru!
Bailey in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

 Dr, Bailey's article, "A New Online Strategy in Teaching Racial and Ethnic Health and Health Disparities to Public Health Professionals" was accepted by the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. It will appear in the 2016 issue of the Journal.

Saidel's Latest Publication

Excavations in the Western Negev Highlands: Results of the Negev Emergency Survey 1978-89 by Dr. Benjamin Saidel and co-author M. Haimon was published December 2014 by British Archaeological Reports. See here for more.

Summer Interns at Tyrrell Country
Haley Drabek translated the Tyrrell Water Management Study finalized in 2014 into 9 separate brochures, one for each proposed water management district. She spent six weeks visiting property owners in each district to explain the benefits of participating in the localized water management district and asking for signatures of intent to join.

Anna Claire researched existing oral history booklets at the Tyrrell Visitor Center and then interviewed elderly Tyrrell County residents who grew up in the county. She taped these interviews for safe keeping at the Visitor Center and is currently writing narrative reports of the collected information, one for each conversation partner. These reports will be bound and held at the Tyrrell County Visitor Center for interested readers. Anna Claire has also been involved with a group of children in the county with a diverse ethnic background. Under Anna Claire's direction the children are currently writing a newsletter that will report on the children's experiences of growing up in Tyrrell County, exploring their favorite places, activities, and hopes for their future.  
ECU "Beats Them All"
East Carolina ranks number one for the second consecutive year as the provider of graduate degrees for the Register of Professional Archaeologists registrants! Read more here
Mathews and Mazow Recognized for Teaching Methods

 Dr. Holly Mathews and Dr. Laura Mazow were recognized for their outstanding teaching methods by students during the Spring 2015 semester from the College STAR.

Student response for Dr. Mathews:

"She gives feedback and forces her students to expand their mind and explore alternate theories or explanations. She wants her students to discuss topics in class instead of just listening to her talk the entire time."

Student response for Dr. Mazow:

"We have a small class which allows many opportunities for a lot of class discussion...She always provides feedback and answers to our journal entries and is always available when we need help." 

Congratulations to them both!

East Carolina University | Department of Anthropology
231 Flanagan Building | East Fifth Street | Greenville, NC 27858-4353 USA | Phone 252.328.9430 | Fax 252-328-9464