Research Areas and Interests

·      North and West Africa; Globalization, Development and Gender; Tourism, Performance and Identity; Postcolonial and Feminist Theory; Representation, Popular Culture and Social Theory; Islam and Muslim Societies

·      Teaching of Anthropology and Gender Studies

Education

Doctoral Studies, University of Oregon, 2008-present

Dissertation Title: “Contested Nation, Global Space: Tuareg Heritage and the Malian State” (expected completion August 2013)

Comprehensive Exam Areas: Social Theory (passed January 2008); Tourism, Heritage and Identity (passed January 2010).

Master of Arts, University of Oregon, 2008

Master’s Paper Title: “Power, Representation and Tourism: A Case Study in Northern Mali”  

Bachelor of Arts, Cultural Anthropology, June 2005, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR

Honor’s Thesis Title: “Performing Identities: Conflict, Concert and Commodity in a West African Festival”

Graduated Summa Cum Laude, Departmental Honors

Courses taught

·      Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

·      World Cultures

·      Sexuality and Culture

·      Gender in Cross-cultural Perspective

·      Gender, Folklore, and Inequality

Courses prepared to teach

·      Cultures of Africa

·      Foundations of Social Theory

·      Politics, Ethnicity, and Nationalism

·      Culture and Representation (Popular and Ethnographic Film)

·      Anthropology of Tourism

Teaching Experience

Lane Community College:

·      Instructor           

o   ANTH 103, “Intro to Cultural Anthropology,” Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Spring 2013 (enrollment 30-33)

University of Oregon:

·      Instructor           

o   ANTH 161, “World Cultures” (Intro to Cultural Anthropology), Spring 2012 (enrollment 200)

o   ANTH 315, “Gender, Folklore and Inequality”, Spring 2011 (enrollment 150), Winter 2012 (enrollment 80)

o   ANTH 314, “Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective”, Fall 2010 (enrollment 117), Fall 2011 (enrollment 80)

o   ANTH 165, “Sexuality and Culture,” Summer 2010, Summer 2011, Summer 2013 (enrollment 40)

·      Teaching Assistant/Discussion Leader/ “Graduate Teaching Fellow”:

o   ANTH 280 “Language and Culture,” Spring 2010

o   ANTH 314 “Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective,” Winter 2008

o   ANTH 315 “Gender, Folklore & Inequality,” Spring 2008, Winter 2010

o   ANTH 165: “Sexuality and Culture,” Spring 2009

o   ANTH 161, “World Cultures,” Spring 2007, Fall 2007, Winter 2008, Fall 2008, Winter 2009

·       Reader/Grader:

o   ANTH 327: “Anthropological Perspectives on Africa,” Fall 2009, Fall 2012

o   ANTH 331: “Cultures of South Asia,” Winter 2007, Winter 2013  

·      Guest Lectures

o   UO ANTH 327, “Anthropological Perspectives on Africa,” October 21 2012

§  “Sex, Gender and Sexuality in Africa”

o   UO ANTH 488, “Foundations of Social Theory,” April 2012

o   UO ANTH 448/548, “Gender and Archaeology,” April 10, 2008

§  “Gender, Archaeology, and Representation in Popular Media”            

Leadership and Professional Experience

·      Professional Presentations:

o   American Anthropological Association, San Francisco, November 14-18 2012

§   “When Tourism and Terrorism Collide: Tuareg Heritage and the Malian State.”

§  Panel: “Critical Heritage Studies in Contested Realms,” Discussant Regina Bendix.

o   Association of Anthropology Grad Students, UO, Invited talk, May 25, 2012

§  “Romancing the Nomad: Constructing the Tuareg in international media”

o   University of Oregon Community Conversations, “Dance Across the Globe,” May 8, 2012

§  “Commodification and Healing: Malian Tuareg performers and ritual practitioners”

o   Society for Ethnomusicology, NW, Eugene, OR, February 18-19, 2012

§  Paper Title: "Kalashnikovs and Electric Guitars: Tuareg Music and the Global Stage."

o   Western States Folklore Society, UC Davis, California April 11, 2008

§  Paper Title: “Are We There Yet?: Investigations into the Expectations of Cultural Tourism.”

·      Service

o   Undergraduate Activities Coordinator: September 2009-2011

o   Anthropology Graduate Student Email List Serve, List Master, 2006-2009

o   Association of Anthropology Graduate Students (AAGS), University of Oregon

§  Member, 2006-present

§  Officer, 2007-2009

o   Union Steward: Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation, Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, 2007-2010

·      Field Experience

o   December-February 2011, “Tourism in Timbuktu” reconnaissance mission for dissertation

o   December-February 2005, “Festival in the Desert,” Independent Fieldwork: Mali

o   January-May 2004, “Gender and Development: Mali,” Field Based Study Abroad, School for International Training

·      Research Assistant: “Travel Ad Database and Analysis,” Dr. Judith Raiskin (UO/WGS), January 2008-present

·      Research Assistant and Editor: “Gender in the Middle East Project,” Dr. Diane Baxter (UO) Spring 2005, Fall 2006

Employment and Practical Skills

·      Office Assistant, Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, 2002-2005

o   Skills of the Trade: PC and Mac proficiency, Word Processing and Database Management/Creation (MS Word, Excel, Filemaker Pro), strong oral and written communication skills, electronic and paper filing, email list-serve, postal mailing

§  University of Oregon Anthropological Paper Series, contact person and sales representative, shipping and receiving, 2003-2004

·      Retail Sales Associate, Gold Door Art and Antiques, Portland Oregon, 200-2004

o   Skills of the Trade: Customer service, proficiency in semi-precious stone identification, jewelry repair and fabrication

§  Working knowledge of ethnographic art forms and functions from Africa, Middle East, Central and South Asia, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Papua New Guinea and Bali), Latin America (Mexico, Haiti, Brazil, and others)

Honors and Awards

·               Global Oregon Peace and Migration Research Award ($1000), 2011

·               OUS SYLFF Award ($6000), 2011-2012

·               Charles A. Reed Fellowship (CAS) ($1500), Academic Year 2010-2011

·               Anthropology Department Travel Award ($200), Winter 2008, Winter 2010, Fall 2012

·               Graduate Teaching Fellowship (Tuition Waiver); Winter 2007, Spring 2007, AY 2007-2008, AY 2008-2009, AY 2009-2010, AY 2010-2011, AY 2011-2012, AY 2012-2013

·               Joseph K. Starr Scholarship ($1500), 2006-2007

·                Undergraduate Paper of the Year in Anthropology, University of Oregon, 2005.

o   Paper Title: “Romancing the Nomad: Performing Tuareg Identity in a West African Festival”

·               Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship ($5000), Institute for International Education (IIE), 2004.

·               School for International Training (S.I.T.), Scholarship for study abroad ($1450), 2004

·               Academic Honors, (Dean’s List),

o   University of Oregon, Academic Years: 2002-2003, 2004-2005 (and Fall 2003)

o   Portland State University, Academic Terms: Winter-Spring 2002

o   Mount Hood Community College, Academic Years: 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000-2001

Language Skills:

·      French: Reading, writing and speaking proficiency

·      Spanish: Rudimentary Speaking and reading knowledge

·      Bambara (Bamana): Conversational

·      Tamasheq: Beginning

Personal Contact:

 1800 Columbia Street

Eugene, OR 97403

541-255-6102

References on following page

Graduate Committee:

Carol Silverman

Professor, Dept. Head

Department of Anthropology

University of Oregon

csilverm@uoregon.edu

(Chair)

Philip W. Scher

Professor

Department of Anthropology

University of Oregon

pscher@uoregon.edu

Stephen Wooten

Professor

Department of Anthropology/Int’l Studies

University of Oregon

swooten@uoregon.edu

Other:

Diane Baxter

Instructor

Department of Anthropology

University of Oregon

dbaxter@uoregon.edu

Judith Raiskin

Professor

Department of Women’s and Gender Studies

University of Oregon

raiskin@uoregon.edu