Dr. Sarah Renkert

Biography

Sarah Renkert is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Anthropology at Purdue University. Renkert is an applied cultural anthropologist with a focus on community engagement and practicing anthropology through food studies. She engages with the Space Practice Lab, aiming to serve the campus community by fostering collaborative anthropological efforts. Her ethnographic research in Huaycán, Lima, Peru, emphasizes the politics of food aid and community organizing. Renkert completed her Ph.D. and M.A. in Applied Sociocultural Anthropology at the University of Arizona. In addition to her work in Peru, her research in the U.S. Southwest investigates food systems, food security, and Indigenous land protection. Furthermore, she has conducted research in the Ecuadorian Amazon with a focus on community-owned tourism involving the Kichwa Añangu Community. Growing up in Indianapolis, Indiana, Renkert received her B.A. from Indiana University-Bloomington, where she studied Spanish and International Studies. Throughout her academic career, she has worked on various education and food systems projects in countries including Peru, Ecuador, Arizona, China, and Thailand.

Research Interests