Happiness, respect and safety: These are among our core human needs and desires that cannot be purchased.

Dr. Erin Kenny, a cultural anthropologist at Missouri State University, specializes in economic anthropology. In her career, she has focused on a few different African nations and cultures. It began in Mali during her Peace Corps years, where she forged relationships that still stand today.

As she’s continued to study these African cultures, she has been invited into the lives of these individuals. One way is through a study of the evolution of the marriage ritual.

In Springfield, Kenny has gotten involved in financial and cultural anthropology through the Northwest Project. While the study isn’t complete, she’s really interested in understanding how and why people make specific financial decisions.

She hopes her students can also learn to ask questions and bridge understanding.

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