Sarah Renkert

Sarah Renkert is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Purdue University. Her work bridges applied cultural anthropology with community engagement, focusing on food studies, food aid systems, and Indigenous land protection. She collaborates with the Space for Practice Lab, a hub for collaborative anthropological praxis, and conducts ethnographic research in Huaycán, Lima, Peru, examining the politics of food aid and community organizing.

• Ph.D. and M.A. in Applied Sociocultural Anthropology, University of Arizona
• B.A. in Spanish and International Studies, Indiana University-Bloomington

Her research spans diverse geographic and cultural contexts, including the U.S. Southwest (food systems, diaper need, Indigenous land representation), the Ecuadorian Amazon (community-owned tourism), and Peru (food aid dynamics). She emphasizes ethnographic methods and human-centered design in teaching, aiming to connect academic inquiry with real-world challenges.

Recent publications highlight her focus on food justice, community resilience, and pedagogical innovation. Themes include critiques of food aid programs, ethnographic applications in design education, and the interplay of carework, economic precarity, and grassroots organizing. Her work in the Ecuadorian Amazon explores culinary meaning in tourism contexts.

While Renkert’s scholarly contributions lack explicit awards in the provided text, her fieldwork and teaching underscore a commitment to applied anthropology. She has collaborated with organizations across Peru, Ecuador, Arizona, China, and Thailand, integrating global perspectives into her academic practice.

The Space for Practice Lab at Purdue serves as a nexus for her collaborative projects, fostering interdisciplinary engagement with community-driven research. Her career reflects a dedication to bridging academic theory with tangible social interventions.