Amy Stambach

Amy Stambach is the Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on sociocultural anthropology, international development, and environmental studies in Africa and the United States. She holds affiliations with the Smithsonian Institution as a Research Associate and the Council on Foreign Relations as an International Affairs Fellow.

Stambach earned her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Her work examines the intersections of education, religion, and environmental governance, with particular attention to post-colonial contexts in Tanzania, South Africa, and East Africa. She has conducted NSF-funded research on U.S. private sector investments in African education and health sectors through the lens of UN Sustainability Development Goals.

Her research interests include

• Environmental knowledge production
• Global education policies
• China-Africa development partnerships
• Religion and development ethics
• Colonial museum histories

Her recent publications analyze topics ranging from Tanzanian education systems to Sino-African diplomatic treaties. Her work bridges anthropological theory with actionable insights for international institutions.

Stambach has received grants from the National Science Foundation, Wenner-Gren Foundation, and National Geographic. Her teaching includes courses on economic anthropology, environmental sustainability, and museum studies.

Current projects explore U.S. corporate investments in South African and Tanzanian sectors including agriculture and real estate, analyzing how these intersect with local environmental and health priorities.