Jeffrey D Anderson

Jeffrey D Anderson is Professor of Anthropology at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where he has been a faculty member since 2008. He holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Chicago (1994), an M.A. in Social Sciences from the same institution (1981), and a B.A. in Sociology-Anthropology from Knox College (1980). His academic career spans multiple institutions, including Colby College, Minnesota State University, Central Wyoming College, and Triton College.

• Ph.D. in Anthropology, University of Chicago, 1994
• M.A. in Social Sciences, University of Chicago, 1981
• B.A. in Sociology-Anthropology, Knox College, 1980

Anderson’s research focuses on Northern Arapaho history, language, and culture, with over twenty-five years of fieldwork on the Wind River Indian Reservation. He has published extensively on Indigenous knowledge systems, mythology, ethnopoetics, language shift, and the anthropology of art and creativity. His work bridges anthropology, ethnohistory, and Indigenous rights, emphasizing the continuity and resilience of Native epistemologies.

His recent publications reflect deep engagement with temporal systems, sacred art, and spiritual traditions among Plains Indians. Articles such as "A History of Time in the Northern Arapaho Tribe" and "The Sacred Art of Arapaho Quillwork" demonstrate a sustained interdisciplinary inquiry into how knowledge, space, and time are interwoven in Indigenous worldviews. His scholarship often intersects with themes of cultural survival, identity, and decolonization.

Anderson is a member of the American Anthropological Association, Canadian Anthropological Society, and American Society for Ethnohistory.

He has taught a wide range of courses including Language and Culture, North American Indians, Native American Religions, and Anthropology of Creativity. He has also chaired or directed programs in Anthropology, American Studies, Native American Studies, and African-American Studies, reflecting his broad academic leadership.

Anderson’s work includes applied anthropological projects, community development, and museum research. He has been involved in curriculum development and public engagement initiatives, emphasizing the role of anthropology in social justice and education.