Erika Carrillo

Assistant Professor

Department of Anthropolgy

Current Activities

Dr. Erika Carrillo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at San José State University. She received her dual title Ph.D. in Anthropology and Gerontology from Purdue University. Erika has conducted ethnographic research with aging Latinos and their families in San Francisco’s Mission District. Her project examines how families define and negotiate what they consider “good” care. As an applied anthropologist, she is interested in using ethnographic data collected “on the ground” and connecting it to broader discussions of care, aging, and health inequalities. She is proud to come from a long line of scholars and mentors who advocate for the value and visibility of older people.

Erika is also a member of the Association for Anthropology, Gerontology and the Life Course (AAGE) where she is currently serving as secretary for the organization. She has coauthored a review article on the contemporary state of the anthropology of aging titled, “Applying Anthropological Insight in an Aging World” for the Oxford Encyclopedia of Anthropology. Currently, she is coauthoring a manuscript titled, “Journeying Through the Life Course: Making a Student Exhibit.” This article is about making a visual and interactive exhibit designed for students who are just beginning to learn about the relevance of the anthropology of aging and the life course.