Jennifer Alvey

Jennifer Alvey is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Michigan-Flint, affiliated with the Department of Behavioral Sciences within the College of Arts, Sciences and Education. Her ethnographic and historical research in Nicaragua examines the spatial formation of the state, gendered-class relations, and revolutionary/counter-revolutionary dynamics. She also investigates gendered aspects of environmental crises, food sovereignty, and social justice in Michigan and comparative contexts.

She holds a PhD in Anthropology (2010) and has led curricular development initiatives, including the Certificate in Humanistic Inquiry. Her recent work focuses on ePortfolio design and implementation as a tool for integrative learning and reflective pedagogy.

Alvey has received awards such as the 2025 and 2024 Advancing Welcoming Communities Initiatives grants from the UM-Flint Thompson Center for Learning and Teaching, and a 2024 International Travel Award from the UM-Flint Office of Research.

• UM-Flint Certificate in Humanistic Inquiry funded by The Teagle Foundation ($85,000, 2022-2024, PI)
• UM-Flint Liberal Arts Certificate funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities ($25,000, 2021-2022, CoInvestigator)

She collaborates with the Global Flint Initiative and serves as a member of the Persistence and Mattering Research Cluster, emphasizing community partnerships with organizations like the International Center of Greater Flint.