Olivia Blucker

Olivia P. Blucker is a rising Senior at the University of Maryland, College Park. Olivia is an anthropology and African American & Africana Studies double major. She has most recently served as an SRI fellow researcher for The 1856 Project, mapping patterns of freedom. In her personal research, Olivia focuses on African diasporic studies. Her interest in historical archives, cultural practices, and history, coupled with the rigorous coursework, is equipping her with the skills needed to further her knowledge of remote cultures and an analysis of their impact on current society. Her primary concentration of research is focused on the cultural contributions of West African influence on Afro-diasporic methods of survivability, as well as the Archeology of Slavery. She has dedicated herself as a youth member of the board at her local non-profit museum, Sandy Spring Slave Museum & Art Gallery, Inc. In her devotion to museum work, she has emphasized the need to re-center the voices of those within the vast tapestry of Afro-diasporic culture. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, she intends to apply to graduate school to pursue a PhD and further her knowledge of anthropology as she advances toward a career as a researcher.