Join/Membership

Benefits of Joining NAPA

More information

Access to 250,000 journal articles through AnthroSource, the monthly Anthropology News and other journals. NAPA Annals of Anthropological Practice delivered to your inbox. Direct access to the NAPA Notes newsletter and regular monthly emails

Professional mentoring

Proactive career development through the Mentor Program and the NAPA occupational therapy field school. Take advantage of the online career center, with resume builder, job listings, and resume posting

Events

Discounts to the annual meeting. Receive invitations to special NAPA-supported events at conferences and gain access to annual NAPA workshops

The Community

Gain access to a supportive network of practicing anthropologists and the membership directory (through AAA)

To join NAPA, you must be a member of AAA; you can join both at the same time. Or, if you are already an AAA member, you can still join NAPA. All memberships are processed through AAA. AAA membership is on a sliding scale; fees are as little as $35 for undergraduate students! Professional dues start at $135. NAPA’s annual membership is $35 for professionals. Students receive membership for $20. Isn’t your career worth that small investment?

For more information and to become a member, see the AAA membership page.

Frequently asked questions

NAPA is the premier organization for supporting applied, practicing, and professional anthropologists. While a key focus is anthropologists working beyond the academy, we also support academically oriented anthropologists, especially those in applied settings, teaching the next generation of practitioners. Through information exchanges, networking, mentoring, practical skills training, career planning, and a host of other activities, NAPA supports individual professional development and the application of anthropology training in business, non-profits, government, and international agencies.

To join NAPA, you must be a member of AAA; you can join both at the same time. Or, if you are already a AAA member, you can still join NAPA. All memberships are processed through AAA. For more information and to become a member, see the AAA website at
http://www.aaanet.org/membership/join.cfm

AAA membership is on a sliding scale; fees are as little as $35 for undergraduate students! Professional dues start at $135. Once you join AAA, NAPA’s annual membership is $35 for professionals. Students receive membership for $20. Isn’t your career worth that small investment?

NAPA is the section of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) that represents practicing anthropology.   Many NAPA members are established or are planning careers as practicing professionals linked into government, business and other networks outside of the academy. Many in NAPA leadership work outside of academic settings.

For many reasons:

  1. To be a part of the network.
  2. To stay in touch with developments in anthropology.
  3. To get help with your professional development.
  4. To help other professionals who are making their way.
  5. To learn to market your skills and experiences better to non-anthropologists.
  6. To have a support group, and not feel like the lone anthropologist within your organization.

At least two reasons:

  1. Because your work involves public engagement, and you will benefit from collegial exchanges with your non-academic peers.
  2. Because you can better assist your students with their training and career planning. By understanding what is available, you more accurately advise your students. They will need to network to get a job outside of academia. NAPA provides a mentor program and a group of professionals working outside the academy who can help students link up with potential employers. NAPA members who have become successful in building a career then become a resource for the academic departments from which they came.

Joining a professional society is part of becoming a practitioner. You get publications and professional networking opportunities, access to mentors and workshops, and, because you are a student, these benefits are available at a discount rate. Now is the time to get in on AAA and NAPA membership.