Saint Michael's College

Title: Professor of Anthropology

Education: B.A. Amherst College; M.A. Harvard Divinity School; Ph.D. Harvard University

Areas of Expertise/Research Interests: Sudanese refugees, anthropology of the child; spread of Western Buddhism; Bhutan and Gross National Happiness; poverty; child soldiers; ethnographic poetry and fiction; New Sudan Education Initiative

Testimonial: What I like about Saint Michael's students is their compassion and willingness to reach out and help those in need.

What do you like most about teaching/working at Saint Michael's College? I like that I get to incorporate service learning into my courses! I also like to use different kinds of art to teach anthropological concepts (fiction, film, poetry, plays)

What inspires students the most in your classes and/or your academic area? The very pressing issues around war and poverty that I introduce them to! Some of the truly phenomenal ethnographies they are asked to read as well as the field work or service learning they are asked to do. Taking them to Uganda, India or Sudan!

What is your favorite class to teach, and why? It varies from semester to semester depending on the class itself, and how I've arranged the syllabi, but usually the courses in which I have students do service learning with refugees are extremely rewarding.

What kinds of unique opportunities are available to students in your classes or department? We emphasize study abroad and MOVE international outreach programs - we offer lots of service learning opportunities and chances for students to get out into the field. We offer a very global, humanitarian vision that often stresses applied sociology and anthropology.

Favorite quote: "Oh World I cannot hold thee close enough!"
- Edna St. Vincent Millay

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