Emily K. Brunson

Emily Brunson, 2021

Dr. Emily K. Brunson 
Professor, Department of Anthropology 
Associate Dean for Promotion, College of Liberal Arts 
Email: ebrunson@txstate.edu 
Phone: (512) 245-6753 
Office: ELA 237

Curriculum Vita

Education: 
PhD – University of Washington, Anthropology 
MA – University of Washington, Anthropology 
MPH – University of Washington, Epidemiology 
BS – Utah State University, Anthropology and Biology

Research and Teaching Interests: 
Applied anthropology, medical anthropology, public health 
Crisis and risk communication, health care equity, health policy, infectious diseases, vaccination

Bio:
I am an applied anthropologist specializing in medical anthropology. 

My primary research focus is health care access and decision-making, and particularly how political, economic and social structures (including class and racial/ethnic inequalities); social networks; and personal experience intersect to produce health outcomes for individuals and communities.

I recently co-led CommuniVax, a national alliance of social scientists, public health experts, and community advocates who seek lasting improvements to health equity generally and, more particularly, to inequities facing historically underserved Black and Hispanic/Latino populations in relation to COVID-19 vaccination.

As an applied anthropologist, I am also actively engaged in local, applied projects. I am currently working with Capacity Catalyst and Measure to promote local, non-profit research through the Community Engaged Research Course (CERC). This fall (2023) students in Anthropology’s Locally Engaged Research class collaborated with CERC to partner with three local non-profit organizations: Girlstart, The Man in Me, and Texas Legislative Black Caucus.

Recent Publications:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Promoting Uptake of COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV Vaccines for Fall 2023. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

Brunson EK, Rhode RE, Fulton LV. 2023. College students’ willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccines. Journal of American College Health 71(9):2804-2812.

Schoch-Spana ML, Brunson EK, Ravi S, Taylor M, Trotochaud M, and Hosangadi D on behalf of the CommuniHealth Coalition. 2022. The CommuniHealth Playbook: How to Spur on Your Local Community Health Sector. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. 

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022.  Rapid Expert Consultation on Critical Federal Capabilities Needed to Evaluate Real-World Safety, Effectiveness, and Equitable Distribution and Use of Medical Countermeasures During a Public Health Emergency. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 

Schoch-Spana ML, Brunson EK, Hosangadi D, Long R, Ravi S, Taylor M, and Trotochaud M on behalf of the CommuniVax Coalition. 2021. A Waypoint on the Path to Health Equity: COVID-19 Vaccination at Month 11. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. 

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Communication Strategies for Building Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines: Addressing Variants and Childhood Vaccinations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 

Brunson EK. Schoch-Spana M, Carnes M, Hosangadi D, Long R, Ravi S, Taylor M, Trotochaud M, Veenema TG on behalf of the CommuniVax Coalition. 2021. Carrying Equity in COVID-19 Vaccination Forward: Guidance Informed by Communities of Color. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. 

Bonagurio C, Brunson EK, Sasser L, Marceaux S. 2021. Meals on Wheels Central Texas: Addressing loneliness and isolation through client-volunteer interaction. Working with Older People 26(1):8-21.

The Immunization Partnership. 2021. Pandemic Vaccine Task Force: Recommendations to Enhance COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Access in Texas. League City, TX: The Immunization Partnership. 

Brunson EK, Brondo K, Copeland TJ, Henry D. 2021. It’s not just academic: The importance of program development in applied anthropology education. Annals of Anthropological Practice 45(1):57-66.

Brunson EK, Taylor R. 2021. Building bridges: Using a local conference to facilitate conversations and collaborations around applied anthropology. Annals of Anthropological Practice 45(1):97-106.

Schoch-Spana M, Brunson EK, Long R, Ruth A, Ravi SJ, Trotochaud M, Borio L, Brewer J, Buccina J, Connell N, Hall LL, Kass N, Kirkland A, Koonin L, Larson H, Lu BF, Omer SB, Orenstein WA, Poland GA, Privor-Dumm L, Quinn SC, Salmon D, White A. 2021. The public’s role in COVID-19 vaccination: Human-centered recommendations to enhance pandemic vaccine awareness, access, and acceptance in the United States. Vaccine 39(40):6004-6012.

Schoch-Spana M, Brunson EK. Hosangadi D, Long R, Ravi S, Taylor M, Trotochaud M, and Veenema TG on behalf of the Working Group on Equity in COVID-19 Vaccination. 2021. Equity in Vaccination: A Plan to Work with Communities of Color Toward COVID-19 Recovery and Beyond. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. 

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Strategies for Building Confidence in the COVID-19 Vaccines. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

Courses Taught:

Undergraduate Classes:

  • ANTH 1312: Cultural Anthropology
  • ANTH 3311: Disease and Society
  • ANTH 3325: Medical Anthropology
  • ANTH 3336/5336: Community Research Project
  • ANTH 4309: Culture, Medicine and the Body
  • ANTH 4361: Field Methods in Cultural Anthropology

Graduate Classes:

  • ANTH 5325: Seminar in Medical Anthropology
  • ANTH 5361/ANTH 7300C: Qualitative Methods
  • ANTH 7301I: Applied Medical Anthropology
  • ANTH 7352: Advanced Qualitative Methods