Barry Lyons

Barry Lyons is an Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Wayne State University, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He specializes in sociocultural anthropology, with research focusing on agrarian class relations, ethnicity, religion, and climate change in Ecuador and the U.S. His work bridges academic scholarship with public engagement, including award-winning films like Virginia's Calling. Lyons has taught at WSU since 1999, offering courses ranging from introductory anthropology to graduate seminars.

Education: B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) in History and Political Science from Washington University (1980); M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology from University of Michigan (1988, 1994).

Research Interests: Climate change communication, evangelical Christian responses to environmental issues, indigenous Andean religious practices, post-hacienda social dynamics, and mestizo identities. His research emphasizes storytelling to foster empathy, as seen in projects like Ojos de Respeto and his book Remembering the Hacienda.

Awards:

• 2023 President's Award for Excellence in Teaching
• 2021 TIDE Award for Virtual Ethnographic Field School initiative
• Multiple NSF and international research fellowships

Grants & Projects: Includes film collaborations with evangelical leaders, sabbatical research on climate change, and humanities fellowships exploring mestizo identities. His work frequently integrates public engagement and interdisciplinary approaches.