Charles L. Briggs

Charles L. Briggs is the Alan Dundes Distinguished Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley. His work spans linguistic anthropology, medical anthropology, and critical studies of race and violence.

• Research Focus: Analyzes intersections between language, narrative, and health inequities, particularly in Venezuela and Latinx communities in the U.S.
• Current Projects: Explores pandemic communication failures, revolutionary healthcare in Venezuela, and communicative justice in medical systems.

His research combines decolonial and Black feminist theories to critique structural racism in health communication. Recent work examines how COVID-19 exacerbated social divides through contested narratives about masks, vaccines, and care.

Scientific Awards

• Edward Sapir Book Prize
• Bryce Wood Book Award
• J.I. Staley Prize

Briggs co-directs the Berkeley Center for Social Medicine and the Center for the Study of the Health of Latinx Communities, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations.