Research Team

As an MA student in San Jose State University’s Applied Anthropology program, Sam Bass is interested in using in-depth qualitative research, such as interviews, to help organizations solve problems, from improving user experiences to addressing issues of socioeconomic inequality. His MA research investigates how the housing crisis and policy solutions can be better understood through interviews with landlords, participants in assistance programs, and other community members. Other research interests include food culture, higher education, and economic anthropology. He also serves as a writer and researcher for SJSU's Immersive Storytelling Lab.

Sam has worked as a freelance writer for nearly a decade, creating content from copywriting, to blog posts and technology news, as well as providing writing coaching, editing support, and publishing consulting for authors. When he’s not writing or conducting research, Sam enjoys travel, hiking, biking, cooking, and spending time with cats.

Chyna Lee is a graduate student in the Applied Anthropology program at San José State University. Her M.A. research focuses on disasters, displacement and migration in Latin America and the U.S., environmental hazards and vulnerability to disasters (specifically among historically marginalized communities), and emergency response and recovery. Additionally, her research interests include bioarchaeology, forensic anthropology, museum curation, repatriation, human impacts on ancient environments, warfare, and water and food security. She has extensive field and laboratory training from research projects conducted in Latin America, Illinois, and various parts of California. 

Chyna has held multiple leadership roles as an  Assistant Lab Manager for the Veterans Curation Program in San Mateo, CA, she completed a summer internship as a Field Archaeologist Supervisor with the Center for American Archeology, and was a Historical Tour Guide at the Museum of Us in San Diego, CA. Additionally, Chyna is the co-editor of two published books and she served four years in the United States Marine Corps, completing her active service as a non-commissioned officer (E-5,  Sergeant). 

In her free time, Chyna enjoys traveling, cooking, yoga, boxing, Latin ballroom dancing, photography/videography, and listening to true crime podcasts.

Nina is an MA student in San Jose State University's Applied Anthropology program. Her interests are largely in heritage sites and archaeology, having experience with experimental archeology in Wexford, Ireland. Nina's MA research is oriented towards recording Japanese experiences in Silicon Valley in relation to generation artifacts. She hopes to apply her academic and field experience to propel the voices of others. Nina's other research interests include bioarchaeology, UX research, and museum curation.

Beyond her academic work, Nina has held the Communications and Research Expert role at Leading With Our Values, a remote internship in NY. She has also participated as a team lead in Mosaic America's initial Story Maps Project. When not behind a computer, Nina enjoys playing games, baking, and sewing projects.

As an MA student in San José State University’s Applied Anthropology program, Juan Carlos conducted ethnographic research with frontline workers across multiple sites in California on their experiences with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Juan Carlos framed his study on social justice and anti-racist/biased frameworks to enhance workers' user experience and advocate for workplace policy that aligns with workers' rights, workplace inclusivity, and a maximized, diverse workforce. Juan Carlos’s other research interests include organizational development, anthropology of work, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and UX design/research.

Apart from academia, Juan Carlos has held various roles at non-profits across the Bay Area for the past ten years, including senior leadership roles with The YMCA of Silicon Valley and Youth Community Service. Currently, Juan Carlos is the Community Relations Manager at San Jose Downtown Association. Whenever Juan Carlos can find some spare time, he enjoys traveling, volunteering, cooking, binging any media with drag queens or murderers, and spending time with his husband, his dog Rocco, and four cats.