April 10, 2011
Groner Scholar presents thesis at conference
Erin McGinley `11 (on far left) in Falmouth, Jamaica with her fellow scholars.
Erin McGinley ‘11 has participated in the College’s summer architectural preservation program in Falmouth, Jamaica, several times. While on each visit, she collected observational data about the types of interactions she saw among the native people, developers, and heritage-renewal advocates. She recently discussed her research at the Central States Anthropological Society (CSAS) annual conference.
“The best part about our trip in truth had nothing to do with beaches or what a typical tourist would want from Jamaica,” said McGinley. “The people we met and those we worked closely with on a daily basis at Falmouth Heritage Renewal and other community members comprise the remarkable experience of studying in Falmouth.”
These observations led to McGinley’s senior thesis project, which was guided by anthropology professor Holly Swyers. McGinley recently presented her thesis at the 2011 Central States Anthropological Society (CSAS) annual conference. The CSAS is a branch of the American Anthropological Association. The conference was held at the University of Iowa in Iowa City from April 7-9, 2011. McGinley presented her research, titled “Negotiating the Place of History in Falmouth, Jamaica,” on the Non-Profits and Community Organizations panel.
McGinley’s thesis project examined the power struggle that characterizes the many efforts to transform historically significant sites into engines of economic growth and development in Falmouth. She did field research that records the “real Falmouth” that stakeholders want tourists to see, as opposed to the way the citizens want to market their town.
McGinley is one of the College’s inaugural Groner Scholars.