Announcing the New Executive Director, Administrative Coordinator and National Office Location!
Greetings to the anthropology majors, alumni and faculty representatives at the Lambda Alpha chapters. I hope everyone had a good summer break as the 2023 fall semester proceeds at campuses across the country. I wanted to take this opportunity to announce that several changes have occurred with the Lambda Alpha National Office. After many decades being hosted in Muncie, Indiana the national office has now moved to Arlington, Texas. Dr. Ritu Gairola Khanduri has graciously volunteered to serve as the society’s new Executive Director and supervise the operation of the Lambda Alpha National Office. Dr. Gairola Khanduri (Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Texas at Arlington) is a cultural anthropologist and historian of India. A recent Fulbright Scholar, her research interests include visual culture, political cartoons, gender, Gandhi, comic books, journalism and science. Dr. Gairola Khanduri is very familiar with the Lambda Alpha National Anthropology Honor Society, having served for many years as the faculty representative with the Alpha of Texas Chapter, which incidentally is one of the society’s founding chapters in Texas. In conversations with Dr. Gairola Khanduri, it is apparent she will bring fresh energy, enthusiasm and vision to the role of National Executive Secretary.
In addition to a new Executive Director, daily operations of the national office will now be conducted by Ms. Vidula “Vivi” Gairola Khanduri, the interim Administrative Coordinator for Lambda Alpha. She is a Wellesley College graduate with experience in public relations, biological sciences, and data science. I extend a sincere thank you to Dr. Gairola Khanduri and Ms. Vidula Gairola Khanduri for serving the society in these roles.
As outgoing national executive secretary, I also wish to express my sincere thanks to Ms. Melanie Cabak for her efforts over the past half-decade as administrative coordinator. I also thank Dr. Peer Moore-Jansen and Dr. Marie Danforth, Lambda Alpha executive council members for their dedication. On a somber note, the society lost council member Dr. Faith Warner in November of last year. Dr. Warner passed away after struggling with a long-term illness. Dr. Warner’s guidance is missed. She was very devoted to her students and was a tireless advocate of Lambda Alpha.
I have enjoyed my tenure as national executive secretary and serving the society. For me highpoints during this time consist of the 50th anniversary of the society and weathering the pandemic. Both of these events emphasized to me the long-term importance of acknowledging and supporting excellence among young scholars in anthropology and not forgetting the significance of human resilience during challenging times. As anthropologists we all appreciate the fact that resilience is a distinguishing characteristic of humankind–past, present and future.
Please note, the PO box address and email contact information for the national office has changed (see below). Questions regarding the society can be sent to the email address at Admin@laanthro.org. Society information is also posted at laanthro.org.
Dr. Mark Groover
