Alana Jolley

Professor of Anthropology

I have a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a Masters Degree in Cultural Anthropology emphasizing Medical AnthropologyA field of anthropology which focuses on the cultural beliefs pertaining to health, illness and what may determine overall wellness.  Health and wellness beliefs are influenced by cultural aspects such as religion, politics, and the history of diseases and their causes.  The three intersections of culture, health and wellness is what Medical Anthropologists study and research..  These subjects led me to conduct children’s health seminars and anthropometrystudies of Maya children in the Guatemala Highlands of San Martin Chiquito.

As a Professor of Anthropology, and Certified Nutritional Consultant, I have taught Cultural Anthropology, Culture and Foodany nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink, or that plants absorb, in order to maintain life and growth, and the Anthropology of the Southern California Indians. I have researched, studied, and traveled in Italy at the Gusto-Lab of Food Science, where I took cooking classes as well. In association with Gusto-Lab, I participated in a World Food Panel at the United Nations conference in Rome. I have researched at the National Archives in Madrid, Spain. In 2019, I returned to Seville, Spain to the Archivos de Las Indias to research my father’s ancestors, who were the first Spanish explorers and colonizers of early California.

Though I have seven children, I have worked in the public sector as an Administrator, CEO, Professor of Anthropology, writer and historical researcher. Publications include children’s books,  how-to, parenting, and op-ed pieces for major newspapers and historical publications and journals.  I also blog.

My passion is education; and as a Professor of Anthropology and Certified Online Instructor, I have created a way for students of all ages to study cultures and Cultural Anthropology on this site.  As a professor in the classroom, I have witnessed the influence of cultural knowledge in students’ lives and in their changing attitudes.

Students come to realize that all people tend to think their own culture is the best. This kind of attitude is called ethnocentrism.  We all have behaviors, prejudices, and biases, which are related to enculturationlearning culture begins at birth; it is both conscious and unconscious learning, and both informal (within families) and formal (within institutions, as in church, or school), but most importantly it is passed down from generation to generation over time.  Studying culture shows us new and enlightened ways to judge our selves and investigate others.  It helps us to understand why we behave as we do, and why others behave differently.  It is all about understanding and respecting each other in the full context of who we are as individuals within a particular societya group of people who are all interdependent and interconnected by their cultural connections; they live in patterned ways and their behaviors in various circumstances are well established; for instance in the Western world most people adhere to lines (cue) at bus stops, or movie theaters, or when checking out at a grocery store; patterned and regular ways of doing things are expected and accepted.

Students and visitors learn that enculturation matters.  Both culture and diversitythe state of being diverse or different, variety and/or diversity is more than exhibiting "different" outward appearances; diversity is often much more about cultural differences are much more than skin color or being classified as a minority.  The courses, presented in a Cultural Anthropology format, are  valuable resources and are motivational tools for continuing education and lifelong learning.  The courses illustrate how culture is a driving force and influence in every person’s life journey, no matter who they are or where they live.

In the future, I hope to include helpful courses for writing family histories, which will include individual’s cultural heritagesomething that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth;  ancestors may be considered a kind of heritage; also traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a group or nation; something passed down from preceding generations as well as pedigree data.