We are excited to welcome you to the 2024 Annual Meeting in Tampa. By registering for the annual meeting, all attendees agree to our code of conduct outlining appropriate behavior for the Annual Meeting. These documents have been made available for you below.
On this page:
Annual Meeting Code of Conduct
As a reminder, the AAA Principles of Professional Responsibility require all anthropologists to Maintain Respectful and Ethical Professional Relationships, and to ‘comport themselves in ways that promote an equitable, supportive and sustainable workplace environment.’ In the case of an Annual Meeting, this means creating and maintaining a harassment-free environment for all participants in the Association’s activities, regardless of their actual or perceived sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, race, ethnicity, nationality, ability, socioeconomic status, veteran status, age, or religion. The AAA is dedicated in providing a conference experience for everyone and will not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal conduct.
All members and participants, including employees, exhibitors, contractors, vendors, volunteers, and guests, are expected to comply with this Code of Conduct for AAA events. Registration and attendance at AAA meetings, either in person or virtually, constitutes an agreement by the registrant to demonstrate respect and consideration for all people; communicate openly and thoughtfully with others; be respectful in discussing and debating ideas; be collaborative; be mindful of your surroundings; comply with venue regulations.
Ombuds Support at the Meeting
The AAA is providing live support for conference participants who experience or witness behavior that raises concerns and/or causes harm. This support includes an offsite Organizational Ombuds who is an experienced ombudsperson and professional mediator, as well as onsite first responders – fellow meeting attendees who are trained to hear your concerns. They can help you to understand your options, and connect you with resources.
The Ombuds can help address issues concerning safety as well as actions, including “overly-friendliness,” harassment, bullying, micro-aggressions, free speech, integrity, privacy, conflicts of interest (e.g. favoritism and nepotism), issues related to conference accommodations (including accessibility, lodging, and food), alcohol consumption, conference cliques, and more.
You are welcome to access the Ombuds service at any point to receive help processing an issue or experience, understanding your options, exploring AAA resources, and choosing your next steps.
The Ombuds can help you understand policy and procedure, put you in touch with the appropriate AAA resources, facilitate communication with the person or people of concern, and mediate disagreements.
Contacting the Ombuds service does not mean that you have reported anything to the AAA. The Ombuds can help you decide whether and how to make a report. You have up to one year after the conference to contact the Ombuds with a conference related issue. Please consider that options for addressing concerns tend to narrow with time.
Our offsite Organizational Ombuds is Bathabile K. S. Mthombeni (she/her/hers). She is the founder and principal of Untangled Resolutions, a company launched in 2010 that provides conflict management and dispute resolution consulting and services with a DEI lens.
Bathabile was born in South Africa, raised in Southern California, and lives in the Southern Tier of New York State. Her name means “they are happy” in at least three Southern African languages: seTswana, isiZulu, and isiNdebele. She is a companion to five dogs and three cats, loves music and mystery novels, sang for tips on the New York City subway platforms, and once lived in a tent.
Bathabile earned her A.B. in sociology from Princeton University, law degree from Columbia Law School, and her masters in Leadership and Organizational Development and graduate coaching certificate from the University of Texas at Dallas’ Jindal School of Management. She brings over 20 years of experience as a mediator, coach, and ombudsperson to providing you with empathy, guidance, and interventions that are confidential, informal, impartial and independent.
To reach the Ombuds service, complete the contact form or call (917) 912-0882 and leave a message with your contact information or access the conference app or website for links to the Ombuds service. You should receive a response within 12 hours or less. You can also access the app or ask at the registration desk to find a first responder at the conference.
AAA Policy on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault
Read AAA’s official policy on sexual harassment and sexual assault.
