Anthropology Faculty & Staff

Chair

Graduate Director

Full-time Faculty

Orisanmi Burton Assistant Professor CAS | Anthropology

As a social anthropologist working in the United States, my research examines the imbrication of grassroots resistance and state repression. Within this broad area of inquiry, my present work explores

  oburton@american.edu

  (202) 885-6792

Arvenita Cherry Public Anthropologist-in-Residence CAS | Anthropology

Arvenita Washington Cherry is a socio-cultural and educational anthropologist with expertise on the African Diaspora, race and ethnicity, and racism. Her research focuses on social constructions of bl

  awcherry@american.edu

  (202) 885-6342

Anne Claus Associate Professor CAS | Anthropology

C. Anne Claus is a cultural anthropologist who researches environmental issues in contemporary seascapes, primarily in Japan. Her academic work investigates how the interplay of international and loca

  claus@american.edu

  (202) 885-6797

Zev Cossin Professorial Lecturer CAS - Anthropology

Zev Cossin is an historical archaeologist and environmental anthropologist, specializing in the Ecuadorian Andes. His research integrates archaeological, archival, oral historical and ethnographic res

  cossin@american.edu

Zoltan Gluck Assistant Professor CAS | Anthropology

My research focuses on issues of security, war, cities, postcolonialism and racial capitalism in East Africa. My current project is a study of the war on terror in Kenya, examining how counterterroris

  gluck@american.edu

Manissa Maharawal Assistant Professor CAS | Anthropology

I am a cultural anthropologist and critical geographer whose work focuses on eviction, race, displacement and the spatial and temporal dynamics of contemporary urban social movements from Occupy Wall

  manissam@american.edu

  (202) 885-6641

Mubbashir Rizvi Professorial Lecturer CAS | Anthropology

My research and teaching interests span social movements, political ecology, racial capitalism in South Asia and its diasporas. My book, The Ethics of Staying: Social Movements and Land Rights in Paki

  mrizvi@american.edu

Thurka Sangaramoorthy Professor CAS | Anthropology

Dr. Thurka Sangaramoorthy is a cultural and medical anthropologist and global health expert with 23 years of experience conducting community-engaged ethnographic research, including rapid assessments,

  thurkas@american.edu

Daniel Sayers Associate Professor CAS | Anthropology

• Time Logged--doing what?: I have spent over 25 years working as an Anthropological Historical Archaeologist in the U.S. I have been on faculty at AU for 15 years.• My Angle: I build from an engaged

  sayers@american.edu

  (202) 885-1833

Gretchen Schafft Public Anthropologist-in-Residence CAS - Anthropology

The major foci of Gretchen Schafft’s career have been minority/majority interface, social justice, education and access to health care in the United States. In addition to her doctorate in anthropolog

  schafft@american.edu

  (202) 885-1830

Sue Taylor Public Anthropologist-in-Residence CAS | Anthropology

Taylor had extensive experience in nursing administration and clinical practice when she pursued a career in anthropology focusing on issues of health and gerontology. She directed a graduate program

  suet@american.edu

  (202) 885-6793

David Vine Professor CAS | Anthropology

I am the author of The United States of War: A Global History of America’s Endless Conflicts, from Columbus to the Islamic State (University of California Press, 2020), which is the third

  vine@american.edu

  (202) 885-2923

Rachel Watkins Associate Professor and Department Chair, Anthropology CAS | Anthropology

I am a biocultural anthropologist whose work focuses on African American biohistory and social history, bioanthropological research practices and histories of (US) American biological anthropology. In

  watkins@american.edu

  (202) 885-1663

Buck Woodard Sr Professorial Lecturer CAS - Anthropology

Buck Woodard is a cultural anthropologist specializing in historical and applied research, with interests in ethnographic and ethnohistorical writing, and ethnological study of indigenous North Americ

  woodard@american.edu

  (202) 885-6798