Helen A Regis

Helen A Regis is the Richard J. Russell Louisiana Studies Professor of Anthropology in the Department of French Studies at Louisiana State University's College of Humanities & Social Sciences. She earned her Bachelor's degree from Loyola University (1987), followed by a Master's (1992) and PhD (1997) in Anthropology from Tulane University.

Her research explores cultural anthropology through three interconnected domains:

• Urban Ethnography: Studies of race, place, and transformation in New Orleans neighborhoods
• Public Culture: Analysis of festivals (Jazz & Heritage), museums, and community performance
• Collaborative Methodologies: Participatory research with communities in post-disaster contexts

Her publications consistently examine African diasporic identity, racial dynamics in contested urban spaces, and the anthropology of public events. Recent works demonstrate sustained focus on New Orleans' cultural landscape after Hurricane Katrina.

Honors include the endowed Richard J. Russell Louisiana Studies Professorship recognizing her contributions to Louisiana cultural research.

She teaches courses spanning foundational anthropology to specialized graduate seminars, including:

• Introduction to World Ethnography
• Gender, Place and Culture
• Graduate Seminar: Public Culture
• Doing Oral History

Her work bridges academic scholarship and community engagement, particularly in New Orleans' cultural preservation initiatives.