Yesenia Pedro Vicente came to Carolina for her undergrad as a “first-generation everything.” Now, she has returned to the University to help underrepresented graduate students navigate obstacles.

Associate professor Benjamin Arbuckle and graduate student Christine Mikeska are examining remains of animal teeth excavated from two Bronze Age cities — Hattusa and Tell Bderi — to explore fundamental questions about how these early urban centers supported populations of several thousand people.

This year’s winners persevered during the pandemic to remain focused on their students.

Anthropology research team studies UNC-Chapel Hill student experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.