ePortfolioBrittany Kenyon

Hello!

I'm Brittany Kenyon and I am a senior at Ithaca College. I am pursuing a bachelor of arts in Anthropology and a minor in Art History. My anthropology career has been in the sub-field biological anthropology, with a strong focus on primatology and evolution. Along with my academics, I work as both a Resident Assistant and Office Assistant for the Office of Residential Life and Judicial Affairs at Ithaca. I am also currently involved in Food for Thought, an organization dedicated towards helping children with severe malnutrition

My main research interests include primate behavior, conservation, and evolution. My inquires lie within primate socioecology, especially in terms of female reproductive ecology, pair bonding, and food acquisition. I am also interested in exploring how both extant and extinct primates interact with their respective environments and how that relationship would impact their behavior. 

My first major exposure to the field was volunteering at the Fauna Foundation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was here that I first learned of the effects of biomedical research and the need for primate conservation. This work inspired me to intern at Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary in Gainesville, Flordia. My most notable fieldwork thus far was at the Turkana Basin Institute (TBI) in Kenya. TBI was founded by Drs. Richard and Meave Leakey, whom I worked with while in Kenya. I completed several research projects in Kenya including a survey of the population density in galagos along the Turkwel River and a comparative analysis of wrist morphology in chimpanzees and hominins. 

Outside of anthropology, I am interested in issues surrounding gender equality, especially the ways in which women are represented in images throughout history. I spend my spare time sewing, bicycling, reading, and experimenting with vegan cooking. 

If you have any questions about my field experience, research interests, or anything else, please do not hesitate to contact me at brittany.kenyon1@gmail.com