Lisa Meierotto
IDSC/MA ’02

1. Please describe your present professional position.
I am currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Environmental Anthropology at the University of Washington. I am doing my dissertation fieldwork in Arizona on the U.S.-Mexico Border. My research looks at environmental impacts of human migration and responses to migration (especially Homeland Security). I also work at Arizona State University as a Grants Coordinator in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change.

2. What do you find satisfying about your position?
My current research project is fascinating; I am studying an incredibly important issue in a rapidly changing situation.

3. How did the IDSC program at Clark University help to prepare you?
As a student at Clark I had the opportunity to conduct fieldwork on the environmental impacts of a proposed dam. This was my first research experience, and helped prepare me for my dissertation project.

4. Why should prospective students enroll in the IDSC program at Clark University? The students of my IDCE cohort were incredibly close. We had a strong sense of community and camaraderie. The coursework was very applicable and helped me to build a very useful set of skills. I felt very prepared for my Ph.D. program, both in terms of real-world experience and academic background.

6. What was the topic of your research while at Clark University?
I studied issues of environment and development, a topic I continue to work on today.