Brandon D. Lundy, Ph. D., Named Interim Chair for RCHSS’s Department of Geography and Anthropology

KENNESAW, Ga. (Jun 15, 2022) — Dean Catherine Kaukinen announced Brandon D. Lundy, Ph.D., as interim chair of the Department of Geography and Anthropology at RCHSS effective July 1st.

“I believe Dr. Lundy’s depth of administrative experience, program development, and focus on collaboration and an interdisciplinary approach will serve the department, its students, and the faculty well in the coming year,” said Dean Kaukinen. “The Department of Geography and Anthropology has a wealth of exciting things happening with new labs coming online and internships that offer students hands-on experiences that I know Dr. Lundy will continue to build upon,” the dean added.

Dr. Lundy shared his perspective on the department and the areas where he feels he can make the greatest impact by saying, “My priority over the coming year is to continue to promote synergies between our degree programs, faculty, and students to showcase these unique opportunities. I am a strong advocate of high-impact practices and hands-on project-centered learning opportunities where students have many possibilities to succeed by engaging with their surroundings and diverse communities.”

The Department of Geography and Anthropology offers students a range of degree programs in Anthropology, Geography, and Geospatial Sciences, and minors in Anthropology, Environmental Studies, and Geography. In addition, students can pursue certificates Geographic Information Sciences and Land Surveying. The department’s focus on preparing students with an understanding of the human condition, past and present, as it relates to culture, the physical environment and those myriad interrelationships offers students ample opportunity to engage in hands-on experiences locally and around the globe. Additionally, the department will continue to focus on expanding research opportunities for faculty and students.

“Our faculty run state-of-the-art labs, field schools, and community engagement activities provide our students with a premiere education that promises lifelong success,” said Dr. Lundy. “My job as chair will be to facilitate these new and ongoing initiatives, advocate for the necessary space for our faculty and students to achieve their goals and promote these endeavors broadly.”

Before accepting his role as interim chair of the Department of Geography and Anthropology, Brandon Lundy, Ph.D. and professor of Anthropology, served as a founding administrator and associate director in the School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Development at Kennesaw State University. During an eight-year period he graduated 55 new Ph.D.s in International Conflict Management achieving a 70% graduation rate, well above the national average. He also was awarded KSU’s Outstanding Community Service and Community Engagement Award. He currently serves as editor-in-chief of the fastest growing anthropology journal, Economic Anthropology, which in 2021 received its first impact factor ranking it the highest of the American Anthropological Association’s indexed journals.

Receiving his Ph.D.s from SUNY at Buffalo and the University of Science and Technology of Lille, France, Dr. Lundy's work focuses on climate change, sustainable livelihoods, ethnoeconomics, transnational labor migration, indigenous conflict management, and entrepreneurship. He is the editor or co-editor of five books and has published in many journals including Cross-Cultural Research, Human

Organization, African Studies, Development in Practice, Economic Anthropology, African Arts, African Identities, and Culture, Agriculture, Food and Environment. Dr. Lundy has served as a country specialist (Guinea-Bissau) for Fulbright and the State Department and regularly presents nationally and internationally. He is currently supervising students on a Diplomacy Lab project on artisanal mining in Mauritania and is beginning new research on artisanal alcohol production and distribution in Portuguese-speaking West Africa.