Bill Roberts

Bill Roberts is a Professor of Anthropology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM). He holds a B.A. from the College of William and Mary (1977), M.A. (1987), and Ph.D. (1991) in Cultural Anthropology from The American University. His career combines fieldwork in primatology, Peace Corps service in The Gambia and Zaire, and extensive applied anthropological research in sub-Saharan Africa. Roberts specializes in Gambian youth studies, international education impact assessment, and cultural resources management. He directs SMCM’s PEACE program in The Gambia, fostering academic exchanges and collaborative research with the University of The Gambia.

• Education: B.A. Anthropology (1977), College of William and Mary; M.A. & Ph.D. Cultural Anthropology (1987/1991), American University

Research interests include applied anthropology in West Africa, Gambian youth development, and evaluating international education programs. He co-developed a culturally adapted survey tool with Yale’s Social and Health Assessment instrument to study Gambian adolescents. Roberts is a Senior Fellow of the Society for Applied Anthropology and previously co-edited Practicing Anthropology.

Recent work focuses on measuring short-term impacts of international education on students’ perspectives and collaborative archaeological projects in The Gambia. His fieldwork began in primate studies in Panama/Colombia/Brazil (1975-76) and transitioned to applied health/public infrastructure work in Africa during his Peace Corps tenure (1979-82).

• Awards: Honorary Commander of The Gambia’s National Order (2005), Fulbright Grant (dissertation research in Guinea)

Roberts has supervised over 30 service-learning projects with SMCM students involving local human services organizations. He pioneered study abroad programs in Guatemala and The Gambia since 1996, expanding to Senegal and Thailand. Collaborates with institutions like the Smithsonian and local governments on applied anthropological initiatives.