Dustin M. Wax

Dustin M. Wax is an Executive Director of the Burlesque Hall of Fame and a Part-Time Instructor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He holds an M.Phil. (ABD) in Cultural Anthropology from the New School for Social Research. His academic work focuses on the history of anthropology, Native American studies, working-class histories, gender, sexual orientation, burlesque history, museum studies, and artistic expression.

Wax co-founded the anthropology blog 'Savage Minds' (later rebranded as 'anthro(dendum)'), which became a prominent platform for anthropological discourse. He authored Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War: The Influence of Foundations, McCarthyism, and the CIA (Pluto Press, 2008), a collection of essays examining Cold War-era influences on anthropology. He has taught anthropology and gender studies at UNLV and the College of Southern Nevada since 2003.

Wax’s research includes critiques of military anthropology and counterinsurgency, as well as ethical concerns around anthropological involvement in military projects like the Human Terrain System. His work also explores museum practices, food allergies as social phenomena, and the cultural significance of burlesque. He remains active in advocating for ethical anthropological practices and has been involved with initiatives like the Network of Concerned Anthropologists.

As the director of the Burlesque Hall of Fame, he oversees a museum dedicated to preserving burlesque’s history, managing exhibitions, events, and a 5,000-item collection. His roles blend academic instruction with museum curation and public engagement.