Professor of Anthropology

My research tries to better understand the interaction of perceptual processes and tacit cultural expectations, particularly in the context of disability and monetary systems. Lately, however, most of my work is more experimental, related to the problem of ethnography and global systems of expertise.

Academic Background

University of Chicago (Sept 2003 – June 2014)

PhD in Anthropology

  • Dissertation: “Talk/Intelligible: Language and Objecthood in Deaf Kathmandu”
  • Committee: Dr. Judith Farquhar (chair), Dr. Michael Silverstein, Dr. John Kelly, Dr. Juliette Blevins
  • Awarded the Lichstern Prize for the best dissertation of the year

City University of New York (Sept 2009 – May 2013)

MA in Linguistics

  • Thesis: “Citing signs: Towards a citational model of sign language phonology”
  • Advisor: Dr. Juliette Blevins

Amherst College (Sept 1998 – May 2002)

BA in Anthropology

  • Thesis: “Dead and Reborn: Christianity among leprosy patients in Tauthali, Nepal”
  • Advisor: Dr. Deborah Gewertz
  • Graduated Summa Cum Laude with High Departmental Distinction

Pitzer College in Nepal (Aug 2000 – June 2001)

Ten month study abroad program, focusing on Nepali language and area studies

  • One month independent research project: “The construction of community in the
    Tauthali Leprosy Colony”
  • Three month independent research project: “Caste and ethnic nationalism in Limbuan”

Tribhuvan University (Jan 2001 – May 2001)

Not-for-credit student in the intensive graduate program in Hindu and Buddhist philosophy

Publications

Being and Hearing: Making Intelligible Worlds in Deaf Kathmandu (2018, The Malinowski Monograph Series, Hau Books and the Unviersity of Chicago Press) - Available as an Open Access PDF

CV and Contact information

[email protected]
+977 9802 010 789 (Nepal)
+1 646 488 9259 (USA)

Office at Kula Culture Library (Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur)

Office hours:
By appointment