Meet: Amanda Brock Morales, CHESS postdoc

Amanda Brock Morales is a Presidential/Multicultural Postdoctoral Fellow in anthropology. She earned degrees in anthropology with an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. Her dream job is to have a role where she can solve issues of cultural heritage and climate change together.

What initially attracted you to UNC Charlotte for your postdoctoral research?
There are a number of reasons that attracted me to UNC Charlotte. When I first connected with my faculty mentor, he was super supportive of my research ideas. The College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences also has many faculty who do work that aligns with my own research interests. Out of all the places that I applied for, UNC Charlotte was my top choice because I could see myself being fully supported and being able to thrive with the resources in both the department and through postdoctoral programming. 

What do you think sets this university apart from others in your field?
Although this is only my first year at Charlotte, one of the things that I have noticed is that there seems to be a dedication to increasing accessibility to education for all kinds of students. I learned that about 39% of students belong to an underrepresented group, about 33% of first-generation students, and about half of the student population identify as low-income and I see a place where there is a real effort to provide quality education and support for students. This is especially important to me as a Puerto Rican woman and someone who was a first-generation student because these are the demographics that I want to mentor and serve through my research and as a Multicultural Postdoctoral Fellow here at Charlotte. I am looking forward to contributing to this community. 

What’s your favorite way to relax after a long day?
I love to dance Salsa, Bachata, and am now also learning Brazilian Zouk. After doing research and working at a desk all day, dancing keeps me moving but it also helps me to forget about all the stress from the day. It has also been a really great way to make new friends as I have been starting out my fellowship here. 

Do you have a favorite book or movie that inspires your work?
One of my all-time favorite books is called el Libro de los abrazos or The Book of Embraces by Eduardo Galeano. He believed that “each day has a story to – deserves to be told, because we are made of stories. Scientists say that human beings are made of atoms but…we are also made of stories.” 

Sometimes, in archaeology, or STEM in general, it becomes easy to get caught up in hypothesis testing, the science, and hard evidence, but in the end, archaeology is also about storytelling; learning about what the past has to say to the present and the present to the past. With archaeological artifacts and remains but also the stories and experiences of present-day communities, I seek to find and incorporate these stories into my research, weaving together multiple narratives about what it means to be human in a changing world.