Donica Spence
Discipline:
Major:
Biology
Minor:
Anthropology & Chemistry
Research Interests:
Human and primate evolution, primatology, forensics, primate social structure, ecology, animal behavior and intelligence, endangered species conservation, taxonomy, Caribbean anthropology
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Christine Hippert, Anthropology
Biography
Pictured with Dr. Joy Degruy (UW-L Black Student Unity, Reflections of Ebony Event, 2011)
After graduation in May of 2013, I plan to continue learning and research in a graduate program in Physical/Biological Anthropology. My current research, with the mentorship of Dr. Christine Hippert (Anthropology), focuses on the sexually explicit lyrics of some popular Jamaican songs and their influence on school aged youth. Ideally, my master’s and doctoral research will include the Ecology, Social Behavior, and conservation of primates. Additionally, I hope to find an avenue to utilize my chemistry background.
I’ve participated in UW-L’s LGBT group 2009-2011 and was an LGBT panelist for Educational Foundations and Ethnic & Racial Studies classes during that time. As a member of the Black Student Unity group, I took a leading position in the planning of the Reflections of Ebony event in 2011, and was an MC for the event. I’ve also participated in a service learning trip to the Dominican Republic, see link (http://news.uwlax.edu/uw-l-students-travel-give-back-during-spring-break/).
In my spare time I enjoy traveling, learning languages, exploring, reading, cooking, board games, free-style and ballroom dancing, improvisational comedy, volleyball, and socializing with others.