Bambi L Chapin

Bambi L. Chapin is Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), within the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, San Diego, and a B.A. from the University of Virginia.

• Ph.D., Anthropology – University of California, San Diego (2003)
• M.A., Anthropology – University of California, San Diego (1998)
• B.A. – University of Virginia (1988)

Her research focuses on psychological anthropology, cultural transmission, human development in cultural contexts, and South Asian studies, particularly in Sri Lanka. She explores themes such as childhood, kinship, mothering, desire, and attachment through ethnographic fieldwork. Her work critically engages with Western psychological theories, especially attachment theory, by offering culturally grounded alternatives from non-Western perspectives.

Her recent publications span topics including childcare, socialization, dreamwork in field research, and the cultural shaping of desire in childhood. These works appear in major academic outlets like Cambridge University Press, Oxford Bibliographies, and the journal Ethos, reflecting a consistent and influential scholarly trajectory in cultural and psychological anthropology.

Dr. Chapin teaches courses in cultural, medical, and psychological anthropology, including capstone research seminars. She has taught classes such as ANTH 211 (Cultural Anthropology), ANTH 312 (Medical Anthropology), ANTH 424 (Psychological Anthropology), and ANTH 480 (Anthropological Research Capstone), indicating a strong commitment to undergraduate education and mentorship.

While no specific scientific awards are mentioned in the provided text, her extensive publication record and editorial contributions (e.g., to Oxford Bibliographies) suggest recognition within her academic community.

She advises capstone research and has contributed to the academic training of students, though specific names of advisees are not listed. Her work is supported through university affiliations and research publications, though explicit grant funding is not detailed. She is actively involved in academic leadership as department chair.

Dr. Chapin conducts ethnographic research primarily in Sri Lanka, focusing on children, families, and cultural psychology. Her fieldwork informs both theoretical critiques and pedagogical contributions, positioning her at the intersection of research, teaching, and institutional leadership.