About me

I am a scholar and practitioner of anthropology with comprehensive training, experience and interest in a wide range of anthropological sub-specialties including medical anthropology, cognitive anthropology and linguistics, and with topical interests in South Asia, the Indian and Nepali caste systems, the history of anthropology, cognitive science and Christian missions. I have published extensively in several of these domains.

Pragmatically, I have been involved in documenting endangered languages in India and directed applied medical anthropology (HIV and AIDS prevention) efforts and literacy and language use projects in Nepal. And I have applied my anthropological skill set locally as well, providing consulting services to police and sheriff’s departments, parks departments, refugee resettlement agencies, schools and other non-profit organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Through the years I have also directed two different summer linguistic institutes here in the Northwest region (University of Oregon and Trinity Western University), which involved a variety of administrative and academic responsibilities. With a staff of 30 and a student population of up to 150 students each summer, beyond vision setting, I was responsible for overseeing all business operations and program logistics such as development of a business plan, and operational matrix, staffing, housing and food service contract negotiations and all budget and finance operations associated with an extensive program. And my academic department oversight responsibilities included management of all academic operations including curriculum development, course scheduling, registration, student advising, evaluation of program effectiveness and academic accreditation reviews.

I am Emeritus Professor of Intercultural Studies in Spokane Washington and have recently started a consulting business to extend this practical anthropological application locally throughout the region.