Mussa Idris
Associate Professor of Anthropology
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Email: midris@elon.edu
Phone number: (336) 278-6445
Brief Biography
Dr. Mussa Idris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Elon University.
Regarding his teaching experience, for more than ten years Dr. Idris has taught undergraduate classes in Anthropology, Sociology, and African Studies, including at Elon University, the University of Florida (in the Department of Anthropology and at the Center for African Studies) and at the University of Asmara (in the Department of Sociology and Social Work), where he was also the Chair of the Department from 2003 to 2005.
His current research areas include entrepreneurship, micro-enterprise, transnationalism, refugees' and asylees' resettlement experiences from East and Central Africa in Greensboro, N.C. and Washington, D.C.
In the fall of 2013, Dr. Idris received his Ph.D. from the University of Florida, where he also received a Certificate in African Studies from UF's Center for African Studies . His dissertation title was Entrepreneurship among the Ethiopian and Eritrean Migrants: Ethnographic Case Studies in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. Previously, he completed his Master of Arts in Anthropology at the University of Florida in 2002, through a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) scholarship fund. In 1999, he earned his blended Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Asmara, Eritrea.
News & Notes
Courses Taught
ANT 1120 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
ANT/SOC 2150 Qualitative Research Methods
ANT/SOC 3850 Culture and Business
ANT 3610 History of Anthropological Theory
ANT 4970 Senior Seminar in Anthropology
COR 1100 The Global Experience
GBL 2470 Study Abroad to Ghana: West African History and Culture
ANT4986 Internship in Anthropology (faculty supervisor)
ANT4999 Independent Research (faculty advisor)
LED4980 Leadership Prize Project (faculty mentor)
LUM4980 Lumen Prize Research (faculty mentor)
ANT 4990 Teaching Apprenticeship (faculty supervisor)
Leadership Positions
2024 (Started Summer 2020). Peer reviewer. Journal of International Migration and Integration.
2024 (Started Winter 2024). Peer reviewer. Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies.
2024 (Started Spring 2017). Associate editor. African Studies Quarterly. Center for African Studies. University of Florida.
2023 (Started Spring 2021). Co-guest editor. Perspectives on Undergraduate Research & Mentoring.
Current Projects
Grants Awarded
2022 Elon University, Faculty Mentored Undergraduate Research Grant (John Luke Farah and
Mussa Idris). Center for Research and Global Engagement (CRGE). Fall 2022.
2022 Elon University, Faculty Mentored Undergraduate Research Grant (John Luke Farah and Mussa Idris). Undergraduate Research Program. Fall 2022.
2022 Elon University, Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), Mentor Fund.
2021 Elon University, Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), Co-Mentor Fund.
2020 Elon University, Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), Mentor Fund.
2019 Community of Practice Grant. Center for Research and Global Engagement (CRGE). Research grant to support mentoring high-impact practices in global contexts. Elon University.
2018 Center for the Advancement of Teaching & Learning (CATL). Mentoring poster presentation grant. Elon University.
2017 Center for Leadership. Leadership Prize faculty mentor grant. To purchase relevant books. Elon University.
2017 SURF Symposium Grant to support undergraduate research. Elon University.
2016 Faculty Research and Development (FR&D) Summer Research Grant to support ethnographic data collection in Greensboro. Elon University.
2016 SURF Symposium Grant to support undergraduate research. Elon University.
2015 Lumen Prize grant for faculty mentor. To support research and conference presentation. Elon University.
2015 SURF Symposium Grant to support undergraduate research. Elon University.
2000 USAID Scholarship to pursue master’s studies at the University of Florida. Fall 2000-Spring 2002.
Publications
Amy L. Allocco, Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler, Eric Hall, Caroline Ketcham, Mussa Idris, Jennifer A. Hamel & David J. (Sandy) Marshall (2022). Undergraduate research in the global context: models and practices for high-quality mentoring, Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning.
Idris, Mussa (2021). Refugee Resettlement Experiences from Sub-Saharan Africa to the Triad Area of North Carolina. International Migration & Integration.
Idris, Mussa & Leena Dahal (2021). International faculty mentoring partnership with international undergraduate student and community organizations in a local and a global context: lessons learned, Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning.
Dahal, Leena; Idris, Mussa; and Bravo, Vanessa (2020). “It helped us, and it hurt us.” The role of social media in shaping agency and action among youth in post-disaster Nepal. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management.
Idris, Mussa (2019). Solidarity and social networks: The invisible backbone of the opportunity structure that Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in Washington D.C. used to transform Adams Morgan and U Street. Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies.
Idris, Mussa (2019). A micro-enterprise initiative among newly resettled refugees in a city of the U.S. South: Challenges, best practices and lessons learned. Annals of Anthropological Practice.
Idris, Mussa (2018). “Two business models: Culture-centered and non-traditional businesses established by Ethiopians and Eritreans in Washington D.C.” In Africa and Globalization: Challenges of Governance and Creativity, edited by Toyin Falola and Kenneth E. Kalu. N.Y.: Palgrave Macmillan.
Idris, Mussa (2017). “Analytical Views on the Cultural and Spatialized Narratives of Asmara”. In African Metropolis: Struggles over Urban Space, Citizenship, and Rights to the City, edited by Toyin Falola and Bisola Falola, London: Routledge.
Idris, Mussa (2015). "The multidimensional roles of food and culture-centered entrepreneurship among Ethiopian and Eritrean migrants: Ethnographic case studies in Washington, DC." African and Black Diaspora: An International Journal 8, no. 1 (2015): 55-70.
Presentations
Idris, Mussa and John Luke Farah (2023). “Microenterprise Development Program Among Newly Resettled Refugees in the Triad Area of North Carolina and the Role of Internet Resources in Microenterprise Development.” Co-presented online poster at the 2023 Society for Applied Anthropology annual conference in Cincinnati, OH, March 28. Co-presented work with an Elon undergraduate student, John Luke Farah, Anthropology and Journalism double major student.
Idris, Mussa (2020). Presented at online panel “Local/Global Partnership and Shifting UR Mentoring Practices during a Pandemic.” Virtual think tank on “Mentoring Undergraduate Research (UR) in Global Contexts.” October 6.
Idris, Mussa (2019). “A Micro-Enterprise Initiative among Newly Resettled Refugees in a City of the U.S. South: Challenges, Best Practices and Lessons Learned.” Presented at the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) annual meeting. Portland, Oregon. March 19-23.
Idris, Mussa S. (2017). “Role of Material Culture in the Resettlement and Integration Processes among Newly Resettled Refugees in Greensboro, North Carolina.” Presented at the American Anthropological Association (AAA) annual meeting. Washington, D.C. November 26-30.
Idris, Mussa S. (2017). “Microenterprise Initiatives among Newly Resettled Refugees in the Triad Area of North Carolina. Presentation of progress.” Presented at the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) Annual Meeting. Santa Fe, New Mexico. March 28-April 1.
Idris, Mussa S. (2016). “Two Business Models.Culture-centred and non-cultured businesses.Presented at The Africa Conference on “Creativity, Culture and Identity in Africa and the African Diaspora.” University of Texas in Austin. March 24-27.
Idris, Mussa S., Dahal, Leena* and Opoku, Osca* (2015). “Refugee Resettlement Experiences from Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia in Greensboro, North Carolina: Needs and Services Impact Assessment." Presented at the annual conference of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) in Denver, Colorado. November 20-24. * (Elon students at the time)
Idris, Mussa S. (2015). “Analytical Views on Past and Present Official and Cultural Narratives of Asmara.” Presented at The Africa Conference on “Development, Urban Space, and Human Rights,” in the University of Texas at Austin. April 3-5.
Idris, Mussa S. (2015). “Ethnography of Transnational Entrepreneurs from Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Washington, D.C. area.” Presented at the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) annual conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. March 24-28.
Idris, Mussa S. (2014). “Comparing Culture-Centered Versus Non Culture-Centered Businesses Owned By Ethiopian and Eritrean Migrant Entrepreneurs in Washington, D.C” Presented at the American Anthropological Association (AAA) annual meeting in Washington, D.C. December 3-7.
Idris, Mussa S. (2013). "The Multidimensional Roles of Traditional Food in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Diasporas in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area." Presented at African Studies Association (ASA) 2013 Annual Meeting. Baltimore, Maryland. November 21-24.
Professional Activities
INVITED TALKS & PRESENTATIONS
2023 Presented at the International & Global Studies (IGS) 2500 Approaches and Perspectives class on “Anthropology, IGS and Global Migration Studies.” March 1, 2023.
2022 Presented at the International and Global Studies (IGS) 4970A Senior Seminar class on “Ethiopian and Eritrean Immigrants Entrepreneurship and Microenterprise initiatives in the U.S.” Oct 17.
2021 Presented at a virtual panel on Inclusivity On and Off Campus: Engaging All Learners in Global Education. Global Pedagogy Workshop, Elon Global Education Center. August 12, 2021.
2020. Virtual guest lecture on “Ethiopian and Eritrean Migrant Entrepreneurship in the Washington, D.C area.” Organized by the African American and African Diaspora Studies. University of North Carolina – Greensboro.
2018 Panel “The Underreported World,” organized by Elon’s International and Global Studies program. Isabella Cannon Room, Elon University. September 19.
2018-15 “How to Travel like an Anthropologist during a Study Abroad Class.” October 22. Elon’s Global Education Center preparatory session for study abroad students. Elon University.
2018 “Global Migration.” April 17. Discussant at the monthly film series of Elon’s Global Neighborhood. Elon University.
2017 “How to Travel like an Anthropologist during a Study Abroad Class.” November 18. Elon’s Global Education Center preparatory session for 18 Elon Law School students going to South Africa. Elon’s Law School. Greensboro.
2015 “Current Refugee Crisis from East and North Africa to Europe.” September 16. Panel “Perspectives on the Global Migration-Refugee Crisis: Responsibilities, Rights and Politics.” McBride Gathering Space. Numen Lumen Pavilion. Elon University.
2015 “Migration from Eritrea and East Africa.” March 4. Panel “Forced Migration, Violence and Poverty in a Global Society: A Panel Discussion on World Refugee and Migration.” Isabella Cannon Room. Elon University.
2014 “Needs of New Refugee and Immigrant Communities in Greensboro.” Panel organizer and presenter. In collaboration with Elon's Program for Ethnographic Research & Community Studies (PERCS), Elon's Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic, and the Greensboro-based nonprofit organizations North Carolina African Services Coalition (NCASC) and Center for New North Carolinians (CNNC). October 20. Elon University.
Service Activities
2023 (since 2000). Committee member, National and International Fellowships.
2024 (since 2014): African and African American Studies committee member. International & Global Studies (Africa Concentration) Advisor.
2024 ( since 2014): Member of PERCS (Program for Ethnographic Research and Community Studies) and chair (2017-2018).
2024 (since 2014): Faculty Advisor for the joint Sociology and Anthropology Student Club.
2024 (Started 2013) Volunteer with the North Carolina African Services Coalition (NCASC), in Greensboro. Assist with its cultural and entrepreneurship orientation program, helping new refugees and immigrants settle in NC.
2018- 2017: Honors Advisory Committee member.
2018- 2014: Faculty search committee member for five different faculty positions in Anthropology, Sociology, and African & African American Studies, including for faculty members in Medical Anthropology (2017-2018; co-chair), Sociology (2017-2018), Sociology (2014-2015), Cultural Anthropology (2014), and African & African American Studies Coordinator (2015).
2018-2014: Discussant, every semester, at the Diversity Roundtables at Elon.
2017: Lumen Prize Advisory Committee member.
2016-2014: Faculty Leader of “First Friends Community Support,” the Global Neighborhood Association Service Partnership with North Carolina African Services Coalition (NCASC), in Greensboro, to support newly resettled refugee families adjust to their new lives in Greensboro.
2016-2104: Global Neighborhood Association faculty member. Faculty-in-residence in Global A.Skills
LANGUAGES
· English (fluent, spoken and written)
· Tigrayit (fluent, spoken and written)
· Tigrinya (fluent, spoken and written)
· Amharic (fluent, spoken and written)
· Arabic (basic, spoken)
Awards
FACULTY AWARDS
2021-2022 Elon University, Steven and Patricia House, Excellence in Mentoring Awardee.
2019-2020 Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Excellence in Mentoring Awardee.
2015 Gerald L. Francis Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year. Awarded by the Student Goverment Association (SGA) at Elon University.
2015 Global Neighborhood Association Service Award for Faculty Service Leadership. For Fall 2014 to Spring 2015. Elon University.
2007 Outstanding Academic Achievement by an International Student Award. International Student Center and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida.
AWARDS RECEIVED BY DR. IDRIS' MENTEES:
2020-2021. Elliott Rivette. Eritrean Diaspora Usage of Digital Media Platforms. Awardee Of Outstanding Anthropology Senior Student. Presented at the North Carolina Sociological Association’s 2021 Conference.
2019-2021. S.J. McDonald. The Role of Religion in the Integration of East & Central African Refugees Resettled in North Carolina. Multifaith Scholar. Awardee Of Critical Language Scholarship-Swahili by U.S. State Department. Presented at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR).
2017-2018 Amy Mullan. “Newcomers and Nursing: Infant Feeding Beliefs and Practices of Recently Resettled Refugees.” Lumen Prize awardee. Presented at the Breastfeeding and Feminism International Conference, in Chapel Hill, and at the South Asian Research Group (SARGE) symposium during SURF Day.
2017-2018 Surya Shahi. “Starting a Non-Profit Organization to Help Students in the Humla Region of Nepal.” Leadership Prize awardee. Conducted ethnographic research in Humla, Nepal, in Summer 2017. Presented at SURF Day. Obtained a Samuel Huntington Award to continue his project in Nepal.
2015-2017 Leena Dahal. “Responding to a Post-Disaster Digital Nepali Andolan: Youth Agency in Online and Offline Contexts.” Lumen Prize awardee. Conducted ethnographic research in Kathmandu, Nepal. Presented at SURF Day and NCUR (National Conference on Undergraduate Research). Featured in the Elon 2017 President’s Report. Awarded a Gates-Cambridge Scholarship (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) to attend the University of Cambridge, in England, to pursue a master’s in South Asian Studies, where she graduated with honors, obtained the Best Dissertation Award among her master’s cohort and was awarded the British Association of South Asian Studies (BASAS) Best Dissertation Award.
2015- 2017 Josephine Gardner. “Sustainable Development in Ethiopia: Economic Empowerment of Destitute Women and Educational Support for their Children through a Community-Based Self-Sustaining Non-Profit Organization.” Leadership Prize Awardee. Presented at SURF Day. Conducted research in Ethiopia in the Summer of 2016. Presented at SURF Day. Obtained a Samuel Huntington Award to continue her project in Ethiopia. Accepted to a master's program in Social Entrepreneurship at USC.