Education

Ph.D. Anthropology, University of Kansas, Expected 2027

M.S. Anthropology & Applied Community and Economic Development, Illinois State University, 2023

B.A. Anthropology, Spanish and Interdisciplinary Studies Minors, Florida Gulf Coast University, 2019

Publications

2023. Eckhardt, K. “Developing Qualitative Research Questions for Illinois Post-Release Prison Analysis,”

Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development- Student Research. 52.

Publications in Progress

Eckhardt, K. “Barrio Adentro, Social Capital, and Community Reconstruction in Venezuela.” Practicing Anthropology. Submitted.

Eckhardt, K., Dean, B. Power & Peril: Governance and Violence in Latin American Migration. In preparation.

Grants, Fellowships, and Awards

  • 2026 Neotropical Anthropology Laboratory Research Fellowship, University of Kansas

  • 2024 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ($6,895)

  • 2024 Carrol D. Clark Summer Graduate Research Award, University of Kansas ($1,000)

  • 2024-2028  Madison & Lila Self Graduate Fellowship, University of Kansas ($200,000)

  • 2024 Department of Anthropology Travel Award, University of Kansas ($750)

  • 2024 Tinker Field Research Grant, University of Kansas ($3,500)

  • 2023-24 Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship, Brazilian Portuguese ($38,000)

  • 2023 Scott Elliott Award, Illinois State University ($300)

  • 2023 Lambda Alpha National Anthropology Honor Society, Illinois State University

  • 2021-23 Applied Community and Economic Development Fellowship, Illinois State University ($45,000)

  • 2022 Office of Student Research Travel Grant, Illinois State University ($300)

  • 2022 Symposium Presentation Assistance Grant, Illinois State University ($300)

  • 2021-22 Stevenson Center Professional Development Award, Illinois State University ($450)

  • 2021 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ($6,895)

  • 2019-20 Seidler Undergraduate Collaboration Fellowship, Florida Gulf Coast University ($5,000)

Academic Conferences & Presentations

  • 2026 “An Ethnography of Migration in Quito, Ecuador,” 86th Annual Society for Applied Anthropology Meeting, Panel Organizer & Presenter

  • 2026 “Refugee Rights and Perspectives of Service Providers in Quito, Ecuador,” 86th Annual Society for Applied Anthropology Meeting

  • 2026 “Lives in Motion: Ethnographic Perspectives on Migration in Quito & Guayaquil, Ecuador” Afternoon Seminar Series, Department of Anthropology, University of Kansas

  • 2025 “The Ethnology of Migration Policy in the United States and Ecuador,” American Anthropological Association 2025 Annual Meeting

  • 2025 “An Ethnography of Venezuelan Migration in Ecuador,” 75th Annual Midwest Association for Latin American Studies Conference

  • 2025 “50 Years of Migration Policy in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela,” Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Research Symposium, University of Kansas

  • 2025 “Ethnology of Migration Policy in the United States and Ecuador,” Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship Symposium and Poster Session

  • 2025 “A Discursive Analysis of Migrants in Ecuador's Constitution,” 2nd Biennial Graduate Association for the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Conference, University of Kansas

  • 2024 “Ethnology of Migration Policy in the United States and Ecuador,” Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship Public Poster Session

  • 2024 “Ethnology of Migration Policy in the United States and Ecuador,” Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship Policy Luncheon

  • 2024 “Governance and Violence in Latin American Migration,” Co-Moderator and Speaker, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Virtual Roundtable, University of Kansas

  • 2024 “A Discursive Analysis of Migrants in Ecuador's Constitution,” 74th Annual Midwest Association for Latin American Studies Conference

  • 2024 “Refugee Rights and Perspectives of Refugee Service Providers in Ecuador,” Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Merienda Series, University of Kansas

  • 2024 “Refugee Rights and Perspectives of Refugee Service Providers in Ecuador,” Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Research Symposium, University of Kansas

  • 2024 “Refugee Rights and Perspectives of Refugee Service Providers in Ecuador,” 81st Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference

  • 2024 “Developing Qualitative Research Questions for Illinois Post-Release Prison Analysis,” ANTH 160/360 Varieties of the Human Experience, University of Kansas

  • 2023 “Developing Qualitative Research Questions for Illinois Post-Release Prison Analysis,” Capstone Public Presentation, Illinois State University

  • 2023 “Post-Arab Spring United Nations Democracy Promotion in Tunisia,” 80th Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference

  • 2022 “Post-Arab Spring United Nations Democracy Promotion in Tunisia,” 29th Annual Illinois State University Conference for Students of Political Science

  • 2022 “Universal Citizenship in Ecuador: A Substantive Policy Model for Mitigating the Venezuelan Refugee Crisis,” 79th Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference

  • 2022 “Universal Citizenship in Ecuador: A Substantive Policy Model for Mitigating the Venezuelan Refugee Crisis,” Illinois State University Research Symposium

  • 2022 “Universal Citizenship in Ecuador: A Substantive Policy Model for Mitigating the Venezuelan Refugee Crisis,” 82nd Annual Society for Applied Anthropology Meeting

  • 2019 “Symbolic Borders: A Case Study on the Role of Language in Shaping Perceptions of American Identity,” 91st Annual South Atlantic Modern Language Conference

Teaching Experience

University of Kansas, Guest Lecturer, Lawrence, Kansas

  • LAC 177/277 First Year Seminar: Native Americans Crossing Borders (Fall 2024)

  • ANTH 510 Special Topics in Socio-Cultural Anthropology: Anthropology of Revolutions (Spring 2024)

University of Kansas, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Lawrence, Kansas

August 2023-May 2024

  • ANTH 130/360 Varieties of the Human Experience

Illinois State University, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Normal, Illinois

August 2021-May 2022

  • ANT 281 Principles of Socio-Cultural Anthropology

  • ANT 277 Principles of Language and Culture

  • ANT 105 People and Food

  • ANT 185 Cultures of the World

Professional Experience

University of Kansas, Graduate Research Assistant, Lawrence, Kansas

August 2024-Present

  • Conducting ethnographic interviews with stakeholders of Ecuador’s migration system to analyze the implications of migration policy on refugee integration.

Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council, Research Analyst, Chicago, Illinois

June 2022-December 2023

  • Conducted interviews and relational meetings with stakeholders of the criminal legal system in Illinois, including currently and formerly incarcerated persons, for the “Impact of Long-Term Prison Sentences” research project with the University of Illinois at Chicago.

  • Transcribed public meetings and conducted a letter analysis of submissions from incarcerated persons for the Illinois Resentencing Task Force (House Bill 3597/Public Act 102-0099).

National Alliance of Community and Economic Development Associations, Researcher, Washington D.C.

September 2022-January 2023

  • Researched national community and economic development organizations in the United States as a part of a resource segmentation study to connect non-profit service provider organizations.

Illinois Partners for Human Service, Policy & Government Affairs Intern, Chicago, Illinois

January 2022-June 2022

  • Created action alerts and data fact sheets to inform health and human service providers about proposed policy and legislation in the State of Illinois. Supported outreach to Illinois State Legislators, the Governor’s Office, State Agencies, and other nonprofit organizations.

AmeriCorps VISTA, Development Coordinator, Tampa, Florida

October 2020-August 2021

  • Created a Virtual Musical Bingo Event for the Spring 2021 Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) Program Fundraiser in Sarasota County resulting in $6,000 in donations.

  • Composed fundraising and capital campaign grant proposals that successfully raised $250,000 for the Lippman Youth Shelter and $150,000 for the LSF Head Start Facility in Jacksonville, Florida.

  • Assisted in the Heart & Sole Virtual Shoe Drive for the Pinellas County Case Management Office that collected 1,200 pairs of shoes and $10,000 in donation to foster children.

Florida Department of Children and Families Refugee Services (DCF-RS) Task Force, Committee Member

June 2020-August 2021

  • Presented research on sustainable program development and ways to virtually adapt materials and resources to better support refugee clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AmeriCorps VISTA, Refugee Mentor Coordinator, Tampa, Florida

April 2020-October 2020

  • Created sustainable community ties and college/career exchange experiences for 200 refugee clients through the Department of Children and Families Refugee Project. Managed program training and policy development for refugee mentors and clients to create standardized procedures for the refugee mentoring program.

  • Created an Annual Recruitment Plan for FY2021, including an activities calendar and list of community partners and organizational contacts to assist refugee clients in their transition and engagement with the community.

Peace Corps, Volunteer, Quito, Ecuador

January 2020-March 2020

  • Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Instructor in Quito, Ecuador. Completed 119.5 hours of Spanish Language training, 88.5 hours of teaching training, and 14.5 hours of intercultural studies.

Skills

Languages

  • Spanish (Advanced), Brazilian Portuguese (Intermediate)

Statistical and Computer Software

  • GIS, SPSS, Qualtrics