Name: Ellen Epley

Title of Program: Ecological Anthropology and Photography

E-mail Address: eepley@utk.edu

Hometown: Cookeville, TN

Year: Sophomore

Anticipated Graduation Date: Spring 2010

Description of Program:

            This program focuses upon the use of photography as an artistic and archival medium with which to convey a thorough understanding of human-environmental   relationships. It is accomplished through the study of foreign language and media arts and also through a combination of courses carefully selected from the departments of environmental studies and anthropology.

Departmental Emphases: Art; Anthropology; Environmental Studies

Faculty Mentor: Baldwin Lee

Plans after graduation (career, graduate/professional school, etc.):

After graduation, I plan to apply for research internship with Greenpeace International. I hope to continue working with this organization for one to two years before applying for Post-Graduate studies in ecological anthropology at the University of Kent, the University of Florida, and the University of Hawaii. I might also apply for a masters program in Visual anthropology at New York University and the University of Manchester. My ultimate goal is to work with an international environmental organization such as the Nature Conservancy or Greenpeace or a regional environmental organization such as the Sierra Club or the Rainforest Action Network to effectively promote environmental education and make environmental sustainability a realistic goal for this century.

Other Academic Interests:

            Portuguese

            French

Prior Enrollment at Other Colleges or Universities:         

Not Applicable with the exception of audits at the following Brazilian colleges:

UNiRP- Centro Universitário de Rio Preto (Moda; Nutrição)

UNiCERES- Instituto Superior de Educação CERES (Letras)

Study Abroad:

Brazil, 2005-2006 through Rotary International

Projected Study in France or Switzerland, Spring 2009

Research Experiences or Internships:

Environmental interpretation intern at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, CA through the Student Conservation Association

Part-time employment; Hobbies; Campus Clubs/Activities:

• Member of the Chancellor’s Honors Program
• Regular attendee of SPEAK on campus
• Officer in CliP, attendee of weekly Bate-Papo language table
• Regular attendee of la Table Francaise
• Freelance flier design for local events such as Aid for Africa and Earth Day
• Active in visual arts community, personal projects include painting, drawing and photography, regular attendee of gallery openings and other activities in Knoxville
• Hiking and backpacking