Peytin Penny
- Expert Role: Rookie
- Major: Human Biology
- Class: Graduate Student
- Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Why is this humanitarian work important to you?
Growing up, there were many instances where the community around me stepped up to support my family during tough times. This experience taught me the importance of showing up for others whenever possible. With the humanitarian crisis at the southern US border being a consistent point of sociopolitical contention throughout my lifetime, this crisis and those affected have often been on my mind.
I have always been shocked by how the main conversation surrounding migration has been that of legality, particularly given the steady—and currently rising—death toll along the southern US border. This concentration on legality has undoubtedly been informed by language and power, particularly through the social and political othering of migrants. The marginalization of those who seek to cross the southern US border has led to the dehumanization of such individuals, fostering a lack of care and concern for both their lives and deaths. Regardless of identity, these individuals are fellow humans who seek to better themselves and their families, similar to many who are privileged to live within the United States. Migrants deserve the same dignities and freedoms inherently afforded to those who seek to deprive them of such rights.
Due to distance and a lack of influence, I never thought I was capable of challenging the harmful narrative surrounding this humanitarian crisis or contributing positively to those affected. However, I realize now how my background in anthropology and current studies in human biology/forensics provide me with a way to simultaneously challenge the current rhetoric and dehumanization of migrants while assisting individuals, families, and communities who have been affected by this crisis. Being confronted daily by the events on the southern US border, I feel a responsibility to use my privilege to assist in addressing the trauma being inflicted upon and endured by those traveling along the borderlands. Whether that be through advocacy or through the search and recovery of unidentified migrant remains—human remains—I feel I must do what I can in this humanitarian crisis.
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
During my senior year of college, I conducted a research project on the humanitarian crisis occurring at the southern US border, focusing particularly on the work of forensic anthropologists and local non-governmental organizations in the borderlands. One of the counties I centered on was Brooks County, Texas, examining how its unique location, medicolegal system, and private land composition affect the work of those attempting to recover, identify, and repatriate the remains of unidentified migrants. While the articles I read were written by forensic anthropologists and medicolegal personnel who worked firsthand in the Texas Borderlands, I look forward to expanding on this knowledge by gaining my own insights into this crisis and its stakeholders. Through partnerships with local non-governmental organizations and community members, I hope to learn more about the life-and-death experiences of migrants and how I can better assist these individuals through my education and training.
As someone hoping to pursue a career in forensic anthropology within human rights and humanitarian contexts, I am looking forward to widening my forensic skill set while furthering my understanding of how forensic anthropology in humanitarian settings differs from the traditional lab environment I have experienced at UIndy. Learning to adapt forensic anthropology practices to the given setting and community needs is a crucial skill that will enable me to better serve decedents and their families in the future. I feel very fortunate to be given the opportunity to learn firsthand the sociocultural and forensic skills required to work effectively and respectfully in humanitarian contexts.
What are some of the biggest challenges you will face while in Texas?
I think the biggest challenge I will face in Texas is the emotional and physical toll of fieldwork in a complex sociopolitical environment like the Texas Borderlands. Knowing that the remote ranchlands and harsh terrain have been used as a form of border militarization and contributed to the deaths of thousands of individuals, I expect the area will feel equally emotionally and politically charged. It is difficult to maintain objectivity when operating in such stirring environments. However, when seeking to challenge deep-rooted narratives with scientific evidence, objectivity is essential. I feel that maintaining neutrality and avoiding my own inherent biases will be difficult, strictly because of the emotional nature of the work. However, it is essential that I make a conscious effort to avoid compromising this work through emotion, as I must represent the decedents and the forensic efforts occurring on the Texas Borderlands as accurately and impartially as possible. Our work has the potential to inform the opinions and actions of others, making it essential that we act as vessels of information rather than moralists. While I think it will be challenging to juggle my own moral beliefs with the needs of the decedents, interests of the stakeholders, and potential ramifications of our work, I am confident my team will help me make the best, most well-informed decisions possible.
What’s one thing people probably don’t know about you until they’ve known you a long time?
One thing people may not know about me is that my family has had 14 dogs throughout my lifetime. Six of those dogs are currently living in my house, but the most we’ve had at one time is nine. They are all small rescue dogs with crazy personalities and weird quirks. It’s a bit unconventional but it keeps my house interesting!
When did you know you wanted to pursue human biology as a degree, and how did you become interested in forensics?
I became interested in forensics in high school when I began watching the show Bones. I was intrigued by the communal, interdisciplinary work of the forensics team at the Jeffersonian Institute, incorporating the unique expertise of each member. Despite the show’s inaccuracies, I was captivated by forensic anthropology. After researching the discipline, I realized that pursuing a career in the field would allow me to incorporate my scientific interests with my love for the humanities—something I thought I would have to choose between. Although my college did not offer many forensic opportunities, I was able to continue exploring forensic anthropology by majoring in anthropology and minoring in biology. I had to develop creative ways to engage with relevant content, taking advantage of independent studies, research opportunities, and project assignments to explore my interests.
My experience at a liberal arts college taught me that I have interests in a wide variety of topics. I decided to pursue a human biology degree at UIndy because it would allow me to study forensic anthropology while continuing to develop in other specialties as well. While I am currently striving for a career in forensic anthropology, I don’t know what the future holds. However, I am confident that by having a degree in human biology, I will be able to pursue a wide range of opportunities and find a career that is both enjoyable and fulfilling.
What advice would you give other students interested in pursuing a human biology degree at UIndy?
My advice to prospective human biology students at UIndy would be to take a wide range of courses in as many departments as possible. I am extremely lucky to have attended a liberal arts institution that encouraged me to take classes that highlighted diverse perspectives and forced students to think critically about the world around them. While many of these classes do not directly relate to my current studies, I have found myself utilizing the lessons I learned quite often. The human biology program at UIndy pushes us students to evaluate the significance of our work and adapt our knowledge to the normal variation expressed within the population. Many of the classes I took in my undergraduate studies strived to analyze the human experience in various capacities. Whether through poetry, statistics, art, or scientific research, each course aimed to evaluate phenomena experienced or observed within the world. The professors in the human biology program at UIndy encourage students to integrate and evaluate these various perspectives in our coursework. However, this isn’t always the case within undergraduate studies and can be a bit of an adjustment. Taking courses relevant to your interests and career goals is essential, but I recommend taking those unique classes that push you out of your comfort zone. Engaging with various courses and instructors will make it easier to develop essential analytical skills while making the transition from an undergraduate to a master’s program smoother.
What makes UIndy’s human biology program distinctive?
In addition to the devoted and experienced faculty, the opportunity to participate in casework through the Human Identification Center is what drew me to UIndy. Exemplifying the university’s motto “Education for Service,” the Human Identification Center provides students with hands-on experience in forensic casework, working to identify and repatriate the remains of unidentified and missing individuals. This opportunity has given me a great sense of pride in my work, teaching me how my privileged education can be of service to others.
This form of training and integration of students within casework is not a universal experience, making UIndy students strong applicants in both professional and academic settings. Additionally, this hands-on opportunity, as well as many others, allows students to explore various potential career paths they may be interested in pursuing and the required competencies.