Melvyn C. Goldstein

Melvyn C. Goldstein is a Distinguished University Professor and John Reynolds Harkness Professor at Case Western Reserve University, holding appointments in the Department of Anthropology and as Professor of International Health in the School of Medicine. He co-directs the Center for Research on Tibet.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Anthropology, University of Washington, 1968
• M.A. in History, University of Michigan, 1960
• B.A. in History, University of Michigan, 1959

A leading socio-cultural anthropologist, Dr. Goldstein specializes in Tibetan society with research spanning family and marriage systems (notably polyandry), cross-cultural aging, population dynamics, cultural ecology, and economic development. Extensive fieldwork across Tibet, India, Nepal, Mongolia, and China has examined nomadic pastoralism, economic reforms, family planning, Buddhist revival, and socio-economic transformation. Current projects include the Tibetan Oral History Archive with the Library of Congress, longitudinal studies of Tibetan nomads, and modernization's impact on elderly care in farming communities.

As Co-Director of the Center for Research on Tibet, he leads interdisciplinary initiatives supported by research grants focused on preserving Tibetan heritage and analyzing contemporary socio-economic shifts. His work bridges anthropology and international health, particularly in aging populations and intergenerational relations.

The Center for Research on Tibet serves as his primary collaborative hub for advancing Tibetan studies through oral histories, policy analysis, and cross-cultural comparisons.