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J. Leigh Swain - Dr. Joshua Lockyer
Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) - Arkansas Department of Higher Ed
- $4,000
Mrs. J. Leigh Swain, an undergraduate researcher in anthropology, has been awarded
a Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) through the Arkansas Department
of Higher Education (ADHE). Her project, Where Culture Takes Root: Ethnographic Insights
into Seed Stewardship and Tradition in the Ozarks, explores how community seed stewards
help preserve regional agricultural heritage and cultural traditions.
Swain’s research focuses on the Revitalizing Ozark-Ouachita Seed Traditions (ROOST)
Seed Bank, founded at Arkansas Tech University in 2013 to sustain locally adapted
crops and safeguard the cultural knowledge tied to them. Through participant observation
at community seed swaps and interviews with six Ozark seed stewards, she will document
the practices, experiences, and motivations behind regional seed-saving traditions.
Her work aims to illuminate how these agricultural practices support community identity,
sense of place, and long-term cultural resilience.
Working under the mentorship of Dr. Joshua Lockyer, Professor of Anthropology, Swain
will apply established ethnographic methods used throughout ATU’s anthropology curriculum.
Lockyer praised Swain’s commitment to place-based research, noting that her project
“brings together culture, landscape, and heritage to highlight the human dimensions
of agricultural biodiversity conservation and the roles that applied social scientists
can play in working with local communities to preserve these essential natural and
cultural resources. This will be a vital stepping stone in Leigh's career trajectory,
allowing her to cultivate applied research skills that will be useful to her in graduate
school and beyond."
Dr. Michael J. Bradley, Dean of the College of Research & Graduate Studies, expressed
gratitude for the faculty mentorship that makes student research possible. “Our faculty
play an incredible role in guiding students through meaningful academic experiences,”
Bradley said. “Seeing students like Leigh engaged in incredible projects, and faculty
like Dr. Lockyer supporting them every step of the way, truly reflects the mission
and strength of Arkansas Tech University.”
Swain’s academic interests include sense of place, traditional foodways, and the relationships
between people and the landscapes they inhabit. After completing her bachelor’s degree
in Anthropology and Geography, she plans to pursue graduate studies in History at
Arkansas Tech University and continue on to doctoral work focused on cultural and
historical geography. Her long-term goal is to teach and conduct interdisciplinary
research on the connections between culture, landscape, and regional heritage.
The SURF-supported project will culminate in conference presentations, submissions
to undergraduate research journals, and applied contributions such as enhanced ROOST
seed bank protocols and a public exhibit for the ATU Center for Heritage and Culture.
Through this work, Swain hopes to highlight the cultural depth of Ozark agricultural
traditions and contribute to their long-term vitality.
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