Jessica Rothman introduces Uganda wildlife study abroad programs
Jessica Rothman, professor of anthropology at Hunter College, says she grew up in the Bronx and studied wild gorillas in Uganda as an undergraduate. She now leads CUNY programs in Uganda, including a winter course and summer research, with 89 CUNY students participating to date.
Good afternoon.
I'm Jessica Rothman, professor of anthropology at Hunter College, where I've been a faculty member since 2008.
And my research is based in Uganda and focuses on the nutrition and ecology of wildlife, including apes, monkeys, giraffe and rhinos.
And I'm a lifelong New York City resident.
So I grew up in the Bronx near the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Gardens, and I frequently visited the wild animals and plants within them.
And as an undergraduate, I had an amazing opportunity to assist a graduate student in Uganda through a study abroad research experience where I studied wild gorillas.
This is as an undergraduate.
That experience changed the entire course of my life.
When I joined Hunter College as faculty, I wanted to bring similar opportunities to CUNY students.
I'm here to highlight my study abroad programs where CUNY students study wildlife and conservation in Uganda.
There are two kinds of programs.
The first is a winter program where students take a class in January.
and receive course credit towards their degree.
The second consists of summer research where students work alongside me and my Ugandan colleagues.
These programs vary between two and eight weeks, depending on the particular trip.