About
Regna Darnell is a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Western Ontario, holding appointments in the Faculty of Social Science, the Centre for the Study of Theory and Criticism, and the Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry’s Ecosystem Health program. She previously served as Chair of Anthropology (1990-93) and founded Western’s First Nations Studies Program (2003-2006).
- B.A. in Anthropology and English, Bryn Mawr College (1965)
- M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania (1967, 1969)
- D. Litt. (honoris causa), University of Waterloo (2009)
Her primary research interests include the history of anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and First Nations languages and cultures, with a focus on the Americanist tradition and Franz Boas’s legacy. She has advanced archival scholarship through the SSHRC-funded Franz Boas Papers Documentary Edition project (2013-2020).
Darnell’s publications span edited volumes and monographs, emphasizing the intersection of cultural theory, ethnography, and disciplinary historiography. Her work highlights continuity and revolution in Americanist anthropology and the evolution of anthropological thought.
- Killam Research Fellowship (2006-08)
- Premier’s Distinction Award (2007)
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
- Member of the American Philosophical Society
As a scholar, Darnell has advised numerous graduate students and contributed to academic governance, including roles as president of the Canadian Anthropology Association and leadership in the American Anthropological Association’s centennial planning. She has also directed the Centre for Research on Social Inequality, Aging and Health and advanced accessibility and decolonization initiatives at Western.
