employment/academic appointments
Associate Professor (Maître de Conférences Titulaire), Anthropology, Université Lyon 2 (since September 2006).
Research Fellow, Program for Bioethics, Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine (February 2008-June 2009).
Assistant Professor (Maître de Conférences stagiaire), Anthropology, Université Lyon 2 (September 2005-August 2006).
Guest Lecturer, Ethnology, University of Paris X-Nanterre (February-June 2006)
Postdoctoral Fellow and Visiting Researcher, Laboratoire d'Anthropologie Sociale, Paris (funded by the FYSSEN Postdoctoral Fellowship 2004-2005).
education (back to top)
PhD in Anthropology, University of Oregon (2004).
MA in Ethnology, Université Lumière Lyon 2 (1998).
DEUG in Sociology, Université Lumière Lyon 2, France (1996).
Abitur Sophienschule Hannover, Germany (1993).
research affiliations (back to top)
Visiting Scholar, Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota (present)
Researcher of the Workgroup Creative Responses to Sustainability CERES 21, (since 2006).
Research Fellow, Bioethics, Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine (February 2008- June 2009)
Researcher at the Centre de Recherches et d'Études Anthropologiques (CREA), Université Lyon 2, Lyon (2005-present).
Affiliated Researcher, Research Group of Prof. Philippe Descola "Les raisons de la pratique: invariants, universaux, diversité," Laboratoire d'Anthropologie Sociale, Paris ( 2004 to present).
Visiting Researcher, Research Group: "The Huasteca: Society, Culture, and Natural Resources: Past and Present" Center for Advanced Research and Higher Education in Social Anthropology (CIESAS), Mexico (1999-2002).
research (back to top)
Co-Investigator and Project Director, "A Proof of Principle Trial of Communication to Patients Receiving Predictive Genetic Risk Assessment," (qualitative research on bioethics and genomics), Co-PIs: Clayton Cowl and Barbara Koenig, Mayo Clinic (2008-2009).
Principal Investigator, Field Research on natural protected areas, indigenous management, and ecotourism in Mexico (January 2008, March-April 2005).
Principal Investigator, Dissertation Field Research on indigenous land claims, indigenous religions, and cosmology in the Huasteca (April-Mai 1999, July-August 2000, January 2002-January 2003 and April-July 2003).
Research Assistant (ethnographic field research with Mexican farmworkers in Oregon) for the project: "The Life of a Strawberry." PI: Lynn Stephen (September 2000-June 2001).
Research Assistant (archival research in the Oregon Farmworker Union PCUN) for the project: "The Farmworker Movement in Oregon." PI: Lynn Stephen (September 1999-June 2000).
Research Assistant (oral history interviews with African American and Latino civil rights activists) for the project "Social Justice in Oregon." PI: James Strassmeier, Oral History Department, Oregon Historical Society (January-June 1999).
Master's Field Research on gender and development and identity politics in rural Mexico (June-August 1997 and January-March 1998).
professional service (back to top)
Secretary of the International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture (ISSRNC), (since 2006).
Member of the Board of Advisors of the ISSRNC, (since 2005).
Executive Committee Member, European Forum for the Study of Religion and the Environment (EFSRE), (2005-2007).
Freshman Curriculum Director, Anthropology, Université Lyon 2 (2006-2007).
Library Committee Representative, Anthropology, Université Lyon 2 (2005-2007).
Executive Committee Member, Center for the Study of Women in Society (CSWS), (2001-2002).
editorial board member/ reviewer (back to top)
Editorial Board Member and Reviews Committee Member, Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture.
Editorial Board Member for CURARE, Journal of Medical Anthropology and Transcultural Psychiatry.
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Ecological and Environmental Anthropology http://eea.anthro.uga.edu/index.php/eea
professional meetings (back to top)
conference organizer
Program Chair (with Co-Chair Anuschka van't Hooft, UASLP), International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture, Second International Meeting, Morelia 2008 (Mexico), Jan 17-20.
Conference Theme: "The Re-Enchantment of Nature across Disciplines: Critical Intersections of Science, Ethics, and Metaphysics.
http://www.religionandnature.com/society/conferences.htm
panel organizer
Panel: "Transforming Political Ecology: Articulating Symbolic/Political/Technological Representations of Nature," Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, November 2008
Panel: "Ethnographies of Development and Humanitarian Aid: Challenging Dis-/Engaged Anthropology," Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, November 2008 (co-organized with Laetitia Atlani-Duault)
Panel: "Indigenous Nature Reverence and Environmental Degradation: Exploring Critical Intersections of Animism and Conservation." Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, San José, California, November 2006 (organized with Jeffrey Snodgrass).
Panel: "Sacred Does not Always Mean Green: Indigenous Perspectives on the Environment and Conservation." International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture, Inaugural Meeting, Gainesville, April 2006.
Panel: "Cultural Difference, Resource Management, and Indigenous Rights." Annual Meeting, Society for Applied Anthropology (SFAA). Portland, March 2003.
Panel: "Representations of Gendered Praxis. Issues of Power, Politics, and Reciprocity in Ethnographic Research." Annual Feminist Graduate Student Conference Feminism Unbound. Eugene, May 2001.
Panel: "Globalization, Poverty and Economic Development in Latin America." Annual Meeting, Society for Applied Anthropology. Mérida, Mexico, March 2001.
moderator/discussant (back to top)
Moderator for the Panel: Discussion of the documentary "Hold Your Breath," Mayo School of Health Sciences and University of Minnesota, Rochester, April 2008
Discussant for the Panel: "Indigenous Spiritualities" (Anthropology of Religion Organized Session). Second International Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture, Morelia, Mexico, January 2008
Discussant for the Panel: "Groupes ethniques, ressources naturelles et l'Etat en Amérique Latine," Conference: "L'État et transnationalité : espaces recomposés," at École des Hautes Études des Sciences Sociales (EHESS), organized by Alban Bensa and Jonathan Friedman, Laboratoire Genèse et Transformations Sociales (GTMS), May 2005 .
Discussant for the Panel: "Cultura Huasteca. Un estudio de caso: Tlamanes en la Huasteca potosina." Segundo Coloquio de Semiología Musical, Escuela Nacional de Música/UNAM, Mexico City, September 2002 .
invited lectures (back to top)
"Civil Society, Climate Change, and Indigenous Peoples": New Challenges." 7th workshop of the Oslo Workgroup CERES 21, Oslo, August 2008
"Rituels télévisés : Altérités ambivalentes dans la mise en pratique du multiculturalisme mexicain." Séminaire: "Les raisons de la pratique." Laboratoire d'Anthropologie Sociale, Paris, June 2006.
"Espaces ethnicisés: Enjeux identitaires de la patrimonialisation territoriale." Colloque: "La patrimonialisation des espaces naturels et ruraux : regards croisés Mexique-France." EHESS, Paris, June 2006.
"La construction d'une citoyenneté culturelle latina: Communautés, espaces, et droits aux États-Unis." Journée d'Études: "Ethnogenèse, ethnicité, autochtonie." Université Lyon 2, March 2006.
"Voices of the 'Other': Indigenous Perspectives on Sustainability, Democracy, and Development." First meeting of the Oslo Sustainability Initiative (OSI): "Alternative Visions for Sustainability and Democracy: 20 Years after Brundtland." Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM), University of Oslo, Norway, February 2006.
"Land Reforms and Indigenous Rights in Mexico." Noragric Seminar. Department of International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric). Norwegian University of Life Sciences, February 2006.
"Conservons la nature pour les touristes: Les dimensions sociales et économiques de la protection de l'environnement au Mexique." Journée d'Etudes Espaces protégés et populations locales organized by Phillippe Descola, Adel Selmi, et Vincent Hirtzel. Laboratoire d'Anthropologie Sociale (LAS), Paris, December 2005.
"Cultural and Spiritual Values of Nature for Understanding Health and Healing: Teyomej and Other Earth Spirits in Nahua Etiology." Public lecture at the University of Florida, September 2005.
"Experiences from the Field: The Politics of Place and Indigenous Activism in Central Mexico." FOREST Lunch Conversation, University of Florida, September 2005 .
"Religion and Ecology in the Mexican Catholic Church: Toward A Political Ecology of the Sacred." Exploratory Workshop, European Science Foundation, Religion and the Environment in Europe (EFSRE). Benediktbeuern, Germany, June 2005.
"Un lugar en la nación: La television, el pluriculturalismo y la indigenización de los espacios negativos en la Huasteca," Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí (UASLP), March 2005.
"L'expérience du paysage: Savoir, vision et sens de lieu chez les Nahua de la Huastèque."Seminar Symbolic Ecology directed by Philippe Descola, EHESS, Paris, January 2005.
"Tohueynana es nuestro orígen : Ecologie politique et nationalisme alternatif chez les Nahuas,Teenek et Xi'Oi (Mexique)." Colloque des Américanistes: "Espaces habités et paysages : usages identitaires des pratiques et représentations écologiques dans la construction des appartenances locales." CERMA, Paris, January 2005.
"Human Variation and Popular Misconceptions about Race. Panel: What is Race?" Community Conversations. University of Oregon, April 2004.
"Ecology, Cosmology, and Indigenous Peoples in Mexico: Conservation Efforts in the Huasteca." Association of the Pacific Rim Doctoral Students' Conference (APRU) 2003, Mexico City, August 2003.
"Indigenous Women in the Huasteca," Presentation on the Educational Webpage, Center for the Study of Women in Society, Eugene, March 2003.
"Gender, Ethnic Identity, and Empowerment in Rural Grassroots-Development. An Outlook From the Huasteca," Cressman Award Winning Paper Lecture at the Anthropology Colloquia Series, University of Oregon, Eugene, February 2003.
"Mapping Nature? Sacred Ecology in the Huasteca Region." Seminar of the Huasteca Regions, Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas (IIA-UNAM), Mexico City, September 2002.
conference paper presentations (back to top)
"Views and Visions of Personalized Genomics: A Cultural Approach." Paper scheduled to present at the American Society for Bioethics + Humanities, Cleveland, OH, October 2008.
"Introduction: Transforming Political Ecology: Articulating Symbolic/Political/Technological Representations of Nature." Scheduled to present at the Annual Meeting of the American Antrhopological Association, San Francisco, CA, November 2008.
"Against Environmentalism? A Political Ecology of Conservation in the Sierra Madre (Mexico)." Panel: Anthropology, Environmentalism and Justice: Exploring Interconnections, organized by Leslie Sponsel. Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Washington D.C., November 2007.
"Contesting Conservation: Animism and Environmental Ethics in Nahua Spirituality." Panel: "Indigenous Nature Reverence and Environmental Degradation: Exploring Critical Intersections of Animism and Conservation." Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, San José, California, November 2006.
"Participación política, mediaciones, y la busqueda de la autonomía local en la Huasteca (Mexico)." Panel: Participación política y pueblos indígenas: Nuevas mediaciones y derechos emergentes, organized by F. Lartigue, L. Rodriguez-Pinero, A. Martinez de Briga, 52nd Congreso Internacional de Americanistas (ICA), Sevilla (Spain), July 2006.
"It Is Not Easy Being Green: Ecotourism and Conflicting Nature Views in Huasteca (Mexico) Protected Areas." Panel: Sacred Does Not Always Mean Green: Indigenous Perspectives on the Environment and Conservation, organized by K. Tiedje for the ISSRNC Inaugural Meeting, Gainesville, April 2006.
"Que sucede con PROCEDE? Indigenous Responses to the End of Land Restitution Programs in Rural Mexico. " Panel : Restoring What Was Theirs : The Rights and Wrongs of Land Restitution, organized by D. Fay and D. James. American Anthropological Association (AAA) Annual Meeting, Washington DC, December 2005 .
"A Place in the Nation: Indigenous Mapping, Multiculturalism, and Media in Mexico." Annual Meeting of the German Society for Ethnology (DGV), Halle, October 2005 (Abstract accepted, unable to attend).
"Environmental Degradation and Indigenous Rights: The Politics of Nature, Health, and Healing in Central Mexico." Annual Meeting of the German Association for Medical Anthropology (AGEM), Kassel, October 2005.
"No queremos el PROCEDE! Indigenous Mapping in Rural Mexico to Counteract the Reform of the Agrarian Reform." Invited Session: Mapping Peoples and Their Places. Conference of Latin American Geographers, Morélia, Mexico, October 2005 (Abstract accepted, unable to attend).
"La música del arpa entre los nahuas de la Huasteca. Performance y simbolismo." Co-presented with Gonzalo Camacho. Encuentro deInvestigadores de la Huasteca, Xalapa, Mexico, September 2004 .
"Visual Anthropology and Representation: Nahuas and Teenek in Mexico." UO Anthropology Colloquia Series: Representation and Reflexivity. Eugene, November 2003.
"Making Ethnic Identity: Ritual as Praxis in the Huasteca, Mexico," Society for the Anthropology of Religion/Ethnological Society, Providence, April 2003.
"Mapping Nature, Constructing Culture: Indigenous Patrimony and Cultural Difference in the Huasteca, Mexico" Society for Applied Anthropology. Portland, March 2003 .
"Living with the Landscape: Nahua Stories and Ritual Practices in the Huasteca Potosina," Encuentro de los Investigadores de la Huasteca, Huejutla, Mexico, October 2002 .
"The Politics of Ethnography. Fieldwork and Reciprocity in Rural Mexico."Annual Feminist Graduate Student Conference Feminism Unbound. Eugene, May 2001 .
"The Life of a Strawberry. Labor and Consumer Relations from the Field to the Dinnerplate." Co-presented with Dr. Lynn Stephen, Rosa López, Jill Nicola, Gabriel Guzmán, María de la Torre. Wayne Morse Chair Conference Labor in a Global Economy. Eugene, May 2001.
"The Life of a Strawberry. Activism and Academics in the Labor Relations of Food." Co-Presented with Dr. Lynn Stephen, Rosa López, Jill Nicola, Gabriel Guzmán, María de la Torre, Erik Nicholson, and Leonides Avila. Working Out West Conference. Portland, May 2001.
"(En)gendering Indigenous Revival and Sustainable Development Through Rural Grassroots-Organizing, Mexico." Annual Meeting Society for Applied Anthropology. Mérida, Mexico, March 2001.
"Women in Sustainable Development in the Huasteca Region of Mexico." Annual Student Conference on Latin America (ILASSA). Austin, February 2001.
grants and fellowships (back to top)
external
FYSSEN Postdoctoral Fellowship, Project Title: Écologies plurielles et construction de la nature: une analyse comparative entre Indiens Nahuas et Teenek au Mexique Central, FYSSEN Foundation, France (2004-2005).
Dissertation Research Fellowship, Center for Advanced Research and Higher Education in Social Anthropology (CIESAS), Mexico (2002).
Sasakawa International Trade and Development Graduate Fellowship, Tokyo Foundation Sylff Program (2001-2002).
Sasakawa International Trade and Development Graduate Fellowship, Tokyo Foundation Sylff Program (2000-2001).
HSP III Doctoral Fellowship, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Germany (1999-2000).
internal (back to top)
Dissertation Research Grant, Center for the Study of Women in Society (CSWS), University of Oregon (2003).
Conference Travel Grant, Anthropology, University of Oregon (2002).
Graduate Student Research Grant, CSWS, University of Oregon (2002).
Conference Travel Grant, Anthropology, University of Oregon (2001).
Conference Travel Grant, CSWS, University of Oregon (2001).
Research Travel Grant, CSWS, University of Oregon (2000).
awards and honors (back to top)
Elected Fellow, Society for Applied Anthropology (2007)
Stern Teaching Fellowship, Anthropology, University of Oregon (2003-2004) .
Graduate Student Research Award, Graduate School, University of Oregon (2003).
Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Humanities, University of Oregon (2003-2004).
Invited Delegate, Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), Conference held at the UNAM, Mexico (2003).
Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Anthropology, University of Oregon (2002-2003).
Cressman Award, Anthropology, University of Oregon (2002).
Laurel Fellowship, CSWS, University of Oregon (2000) .
Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Anthropology, University of Oregon (1999-2001).
Félicitation du Jury, Maitrise Thesis, Université Lyon 2, France (1998).
language skills (back to top)
German: Native language
French: Fluent speaking, reading, writing
English: Fluent speaking, reading, writing
Spanish: Fluent speaking reading, writing
Portuguese: speaking, reading
Huastecan Nahuatl: Good comprehension and speaking
Classic Nahuatl: 2 years of study
Latin: Latinum
professional memberships (back to top)
International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture
German Society for Ethnology
German Workgroup for Medical Anthropology (AGEM)
American Anthropological Association
Society for Applied Anthropology
and 