Scandlyn hits the streets;
helps youth get off them

With Jean Scandlyn’s dedication, innovation and fortitude, homelessness among Denver’s youth might be a thing of the past. But just in case—and because homelessness is a problem that circles the globe—Scandlyn, senior instructor of anthropology, is ensuring that the next generation of scholars continues to learn from the past and to make the future healthier for all young people.

“Jean has an impressive body of ongoing research projects that students are regularly involved in dealing with homeless youth and the approaches most effective for addressing their social and physical needs,” writes Lorna G. Moore, professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology.

Scandlyn, a College of Liberal Arts and Science departmental recipient of the 2006 Excellence in Teaching Award, has been a lecturer at UCDHSC for the past 10 years and a senior instructor since 2005. She is spending this summer studying and assisting homeless children in Bolivia to initiate an international dimension for her research. On an earlier visit to Bolivia, she helped persuade a mining company to initiate a community health program.

In addition to her research and community work, Scandlyn carries a heavy teaching load with classes ranging from “Global Health: The Biocultural Basis of Health” to “Human Migration: Nomads, Sojourners, and Settlers.”

“She has shown herself to have a profound commitment to our department, its students, the college and the university,” notes David P. Tracer, associate professor and chair of anthropology. “This commitment is reflected in the diverse array of nearly 20 courses that she has offered to our students, including seven new courses that were developed specifically for our program.”

John Brett, assistant professor of anthropology, adds, “Instructors are often called upon to teach in areas outside their intellectual ‘comfort zone.’ Where some would find this uncomfortable and frustrating, Dr. Scandlyn approaches it as an opportunity for growth and development.”

“She is warm and caring, approaching each student, their strengths, weaknesses and difficulties as a whole, working to create a supportive leaning environment conducive to learning for a broad range of students,” Brett says.